.Baby Things: Baby Essentials.

The other day husband asked for an 'essential's' baby list. I think it really hit him that this thing is happening and we soooo need to plan for it. And pay for it. 

We have t-minus 6 months left and only a box full of books, sleepers, and toys, which I'm fairly sure won't cut it in the new baby department [i should mention we have a hand-me-down crib as well, but i'm pouting about using it. it's brown and just doesn't go with the theme of our baby room that i'm dreaming up. so the crib here aren't really an essential.....and speaking of which, can you paint a crib??]

So I put together this little list for him. With mostly my dream items.

And then husband had a little heart attack.

one] bugaboo cameleon stroller [dark grey/ dark blue or dark grey/black or dark grey/off white] $900

two] tommee tippee bottles $10

three] monte joya rocking chair [white] $895

four] sleepers various sizes and styles $32 each

five] joovy room2 ultralight playard [black] $215

six] tripp trapp high chair $300

seven] skip hop pallet plate $33

eight] medela breast pump $300

nine] cloth diapers [various colors] $20 each [and we'd need approx. 30 of them!]

ten] zara body suits/sleepers 2pack [white] $16 [and we need lots of these!!]
eleven] monte ninna nanna bassinet [white/wood] $395
twelve] slim & secure video baby monitor $300 [my momma actually purchased this beautiful video monitor for us recently, so we can actually scratch this off the baby list as well! Thanks Mom!]
thirteen] bloom coco stylewood baby bouncer [coconut] $200
fourteen] babyletto modo 3 in 1 crib [espresso/white] $350

fifteen] eco sleeper contour change pad $29
sixteen] advent soothers $6 each
seventeen] dresser ikea hemnes $300

Approximate 'get-started' TOTAL: $4881! Phew, now that is one expensive little critter.

.Homemade Chicken Stock.

Yesterday I posted about cooking the best damn whole roasted chicken.

Bones and All.

Well, today we're going to do something with those bones. See the great thing about cooking a whole chicken or turkey is that leftover carcass. It enables you to actually make two{!} meals out of one.

So here is my mother's recipe for Homemade Chicken Stock {which can then turn into Homemade Chicken Noodle or Rice Soup.....so does that make it 3 or 4 meals out of 1?! Anyways, I digress.....}

Homemade Chicken Stock

Ingredients:

1 Chicken {or turkey} Carcass

6 Carrots, grated

2 Onions

1 Bay Leaf

2 - 3 tbsp Dried Chicken Stock Powder

 3 Celery Sticks, chopped into bite size pieces

Pepper, Freshly ground
2 - 3 sprigs Fresh Sage, chopped
2 - 3 Sprigs Fresh Thyme, chopped {without the stem}

Fresh Parsley, chopped. About 1/2 a cup

Directions:

one] Place your chicken carcass in a very large pot. Add enough water so that it's a couple inches above the chicken bones. Cut up 1 onion into really big chunks. Chop up 3 carrots into large pieces {I usually just cut each carrot into 3 big pieces} and add the onions and carrots to the pot. Bring to a boil and then turn down to a boiling simmer for 2 Hours.

[note: the reason you want the veggies in big pieces is because you'll be fishing them out and the bigger the pieces, the easier it is to collect them. We'll be adding fresh veggies later]. 

two] After the 2 hours, give the broth mixture a stir. Collect as many of the carrot and onion pieces as you can and throw away. Scrape as much of the meat off of the carcass as you can and throw away any fat chunks. Once you've cleaned the carcass of it's meat, you can throw that away too.

three] Now to make it taste good! Add a couple more cups of water to the pot as the previous cooking time will lower the water level quite a bit. Then add the dried chicken stock powder to help those freshly added cups of water have some flavor {fyi: I like to add 3 tbsp, as I like saltier soups}. Add the bay leaf to the pot. Cut up the last onion into small chunks and add to the pot. Cut up the last 3 carrots into thin slices and add those to the pot too. Same for the chopped celery. Give it all a good stir. Now add freshly ground pepper, and lots of it! Taste as you go. You probably won't need any salt as the chicken stock powder can sometimes be a little salty. Now add your fresh herbs, Sage, Parsley and Thyme. Give that all a good stir and let simmer for another hour.
To make Chicken Noodle Soup: Cook your desired noodles in a separate pot as per the instructions. Drain and run under cold water to get rid of the starchy water. Add cooked noodles to your chicken broth. You can also add some frozen peas if you desire, and cook for 15 minutes. Serve warm.
Note: If you want to freeze your chicken noodle soup, make sure the chicken broth is cold when you add the cooked noodles as this stops the cooking process and the noodles don't get all mushy. Then add to a freezer container and freeze.
To make Chicken Rice Soup: Cook your rice (I like to use wild grain rice) in a separate pot as per the directions. Add cooked rice to your chicken broth. Serve warm. 

.Roast Chicken Rotisserie Style.

This recipe has become one of our most loved {and eaten!} recipes.

And I only found it a couple years ago!!

It's from my gal, Gwynie's cookbook, My Father's Daughter.

And this my friends is the real deal. This chicken has never failed me. It's always juicy and tasty with the right amount of crispiness.

It's so simple. I swear. And you'll never be buying those store bought cooked ones again.

Roast Chicken Rotisserie Style

{recipe by Gwyneth Paltrow via My Father's Daughter}

Ingredients:

1 1/2 tbsp Unsalted Butter, room temperature

3/4 tsp Garlic Salt

3/4 tsp Sweet Paprika

1/4 tsp Black Pepper, freshly ground

large pinch Coarse Salt

1 Organic Whole Chicken (3 - 4 pounds), washed and dried

Directions:

one] Preheat oven (preferably a convection oven) to 400F.

two] In a small bowl, mix the butter together with the garlic salt, paprika, pepper and a very large pinch of coarse salt. Gently separate the skin from the breast by inserting your fingers between the skin and breast and breaking the facia. This will lead to crispier skin. Now rub the butter mixture all over the chicken, including a bit between the breast and the skin. Tuck the wings underneath the bird and tie with one piece of kitchen twine around them to secure them (note:  I just use the rubber band that the chicken comes with and tie both the wings and legs down). Tie the legs together with another piece of kitchen twine.

three] Put the chicken on it's side {resting on it's thigh and wing} in a large heavy roasting pan and roast for 25 minutes. 

four] Turn it onto it's other side and sprinkle with a few tablespoons of water. Return chicken to the oven and roast for an additional 25 minutes.

five] Turn it on its back and roast for 10 minutes. 

six] Turn it onto it's breast and roast for 10 minutes. Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest breast side down for at least 15 minutes. Carve and Serve.

***NOTE: SAVE the Chicken Carcass if you want homemade chicken stock/soup {will post recipe tomorrow!!}. Just place the chicken carcass in a large pot with lid on and keep in your fridge overnight.

.Turntable.

This song has been playing around these parts quite a bit lately.

Hope you Enjoy.

by Ben Howard. Keep Your Head Up

.Baby Things: Play.

I think these have just got to be some of the cutest girl and boy toys around.

Babe might need them in its chubby little hands.

Sigh. I cannot wait to play.

Soon little one, soon.

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.March Favorites.

Yes, I have been slacking a little on my monthly favorites videos [missed two months worth!]. And for that I do apologize.

I have no excuse, besides the fact that I've been a little lazy and distracted lately so bare with me I suppose. Also, I have been on this "use up what I have first" mentality as of late so I haven't really been buying too many new goodies to tell ya about.

Here are my March Favorites [a week early]

[shop] 1 | 2 | 3 [similar] | 4 | 5 | 6 [similar] | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14

.The Best Pancakes you'll ever try.

Over the past weekend, husband requested some pancakes for breakfast.

See, usually I don't touch breakfast. I get husband to do it. I find it difficult to get everything ready at the same time [toast, eggs, bacon/ham, and hash-browns] and it just stresses me out beyond belief. I usually end up freaking out some point in the frying process, so we have just decided that breakfast is not my thing. It's completely husbands.

-EXCEPT-

when it comes to everything else. Now, that is my thing.

I can make waffles, quiche, french toast, breakfast casseroles, and pancakes like you wouldn't believe. 

And I always love to try new recipes, which can sometimes be a little scary. But. Then you find a recipe like this one over at momgrind. And OMG. Every other one you've tried in the past just doesn't matter anymore.

Seriously, that is this recipe. The Best Damn Pancakes you'll ever have 

[they even rivalled the pancakes we had in Montreal, which is short of a miracle!]

Husband said that these are tied with the best he's ever had [above said Montreal pancakes are the other ones] and that he can't wait to have these as "our family weekend brunch" tradition when our little wee one is born. Now, how sweet is that?!?!

So I hope you enjoy!

Best Ever Fluffy Pancakes

[recipe and pictures by momgrind. Makes small 16 - 18 pancakes]

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp salt

1.5 tbsp baking powder

1 large egg

2 cups minus 1 tbsp milk [2%]

2 tbsp melted butter, slightly cooled

1 tbsp high quality vanilla extract

Directions:

one] Mix the dry ingredients well, with a fork.

two] In a separate bowl beat egg. Add milk, vanilla and butter, and mix well.

three] Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients mixture. Slowly pour the liquid ingredients mixture into the well, gently mixing as you pour, using a fork. DO NOT OVER MIX. Batter should be thick and lumpy.

four] Heat two skillets over medium heat for about 4 minutes. Add a little oil to each skillet. Pour 1/4 cup batter onto three spots on each skillet. Cook until large bubbles begin to appear, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook the other side until golden brown, about 1 more minute.

five] Keep prepared pancakes on a wire rack while you're making the second batch. This helps them stay fluffy and non-soggy. Some recipes suggest placing them in a 200F oven while you make the second batch, but this sometimes dries them out a bit. Serve with maple syrup or whip cream + berries.

.Telling the Parents.

[fyi. this was written back in the 2nd week of january]

Hi Baby.

Last night we told Grandpa and Grandma Treb about you! It was pretty darn cool. Your grandma started to cry....she's been waiting so long for this. Then your grandpa told your daddy, 'welcome to the club, son'. I thought it was so sweet. Then we popped champagne {but not to worry, I sipped on sparking juice} and had a cheers to you! Our newest Trebaczkiewicz addition. So far it was my favorite night.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Hi Babes.

So today, we took your grandpa Wayne out for lunch. Once we got our food, I casually asked him 'what his plans where on October 14th' {that's your due date. Did I tell you that?}. He answered that he 'didn't have a clue, and why?' I answered 'that's the day he'd become a grandpa'. He looked a little confused for a second then this small little smile started to creep up on his face, and he said "Very cool!". He was so surprised and incredibly happy. So far it was my favorite afternoon.

---------------------------------------------------------

Hi Peanut.

So this morning, I was speaking with your Grandma Terri on the phone. See, she's been in Phoenix for the last two weeks fixing up your new vacation house. She actually flew out the day before I found out about my little miracle {that's you by the way} and I was dying to tell her. And do you know how hard it was to keep it quiet for the past 2 weeks? Seriously, impossible. I really wanted to tell her in person, and after she decided to stay for another week, I caved. I just couldn't wait {don't worry though, your daddy said I could tell her without him if I wanted}. And I sooo wanted. So while I was asking her questions about the renovation, I casually threw in this cheesy line, 'so mom where are we all going to sleep?......And what about the crib?'

Oh, sweet baby, it was awesome. She started to squeal and cry! It was so cute. And your grandma kept saying how she's going to 'Finally be a Real Grandma!' She was so excited, just like I knew she was going to be. I think she's been waiting for you as long as I have. I even started to get all teary-eyed while speaking with her. I could just feel her smile over the phone. Your great-grandma Marion was there too. She started yelling congratulations into the phone.

Not exactly how I imagined telling your grandma the news, but it couldn't have been more perfect.

And it was my most favorite Morning by far.

See Baby. You are my always going to be my favorite Morning, Afternoon, and Night.
You, my Baby. I love so much already.

Now hurry up March......I've got some pretty wonderful news to share to with everyone else, xo

.Baby, Baby, Baby.

Well, you all rock big time!
Seriously! Between here and facebook, Thanks {about a million x} for all your sweet and sincere words of congratulations to me and pete. And our wee baby t.

I hope you all know just how much it really means to us. This new phase in our lives is pretty crazy and wild and exciting and topsy-turvy and, well......you guys......you all just made it that much better!
Gosh. We are so feeling the love!

Now to get to the juicy details......
 First of all, I was just bursting to share our amazing news and I almost announced it about 20 times already, but I managed to keep it {sort of} quiet. And to be honest, it was probably for the best as I'm still processing all these changes even as I write this post! Now, if only I could say the same about a certain mother {soon-to-be-grandmother!} of mine about keeping things hush-hush, we might have made it past the first trimester before making our big announcement.....but I guess this news is just too darn exciting to keep to ourselves!
And I'm sure some of you may have guessed already. Especially with my brain only on baby things lately.....remember this post last week. And then this one? And not to mention my pinterest account.

So, I'm 11 weeks along and feeling great! Baby is the size of a lime according to the Bump, hence the limes images {in case you where wondering why on earth I was posing with a lime} and has indeed lost it's tail. Way to go Baby T! And apparently it's also swallowing and kicking in there!
We're due around thanksgiving {and that's canadian thanksgiving in october!} and I'm already excited about having a baby around for christmas this year {I'm weird and think about things like that}. I haven't had any nausea {please don't hate me!}, just an extremely bloated belly. Oh, and a bit of dizziness. I'm also exhausted! Making a baby is pretty hard work. I've seriously never been so tired in my entire life, and I just can't seem to get a solid sleep. Like Ever. Sleep is just not happening.
I swear it's an evil joke.....like how I should be sleeping while I still can, and well, I simply can't. Pure evil.
Oh well, I won't complain. No 'morning' sickness is a very very good thing, so I don't want to jinx it.
On another note, we get to hear our baby's heart beat this week for the first time. How cool is that?!?! We are just dying over here waiting for that appointment! I think that will really make this seem 'real'. Right now, other than missing my friend flo {not to be confused with my actual friend, fiona}, the bloat and lack of sleep, I simply can't believe that I have a little baby in me! And a baby that is already the size of a lime! Holy smokes!

Another hard to believe thing, is the changes that are happening to my body. Clearly I am clueless because I was convinced that I wouldn't need to shop in the maternity department till like month 6. Well, I was very {very} wrong. This bloated belly has made all my pants uncomfortable and I am seriously contemplating trying out some maternity jeans. ALREADY! Gosh, that sucks. Also my ta-ta's are sure looking prime these days {aka. HUGE!}, which leaves husband with a devilish smile on his face. And me with some tender-twins and out shopping for a new bra.

So as you can see, things around these parts have really been all baby, baby, baby. I will try my darndest not to make this blog 100% baby, but then again, this blog is about my life, so maybe a little bebe talk will sneak in every now and again. Hope that's okay. xo.

.Our Little Lime.

well hello there little lime

we're so very {very!} happy to meet you.

See, there was a very good reason why I've been missing around these parts lately.....I've been busy making a wee little baby!!
Yes, I'm Pregnant!
And we just couldn't be more excited about it!

.Weekend Clean-up.

My weekend in two short words:

Movies + Cleaning.

Yep. That was the extent of it.

Saw two movies [Wanderlust and Friends with Kids], both of which where very enjoyable. Liked Friends with Kids much better [in fact really enjoyed it, and highly recommend], but Wanderlust had some very amusing parts including a nudist, which always makes things funnier in my opinion.

Friends with Kids:

Wanderlust:

And the second, very exciting part to the weekend, included cleaning and organizing our basement and then deciding to move around [which turned into swapping] a couple of our bedrooms. Big plans, I know. And I am proud to say, we did them both....take that procrastination!

Anyways, I will take some pictures for you when I return as I am off to Calgary till Friday for work.

Which is one thing I so wish I could throw on the procrastination list.

.Pink.

I have never been a "pink" girl. 

However, these hot pink lips popping up everywhere has me wanting to try out the trend. 

So friends, help me out.....Yes or No?

And if yes, what shade/brand?

AND....will hot pink lipstick turn me into looking like Blake? Cause, that would be great.

.Tasty Apple Crisps.

I made these yesterday when I noticed an abundance of apples in our fridge.

The recipe {and the top picture as I ate mine too quickly} came from Ontario Apple Growers.

Boy, they sure where a nice little treat.

*Note: These little suckers can stay in a sealed container for up to 3 days, so make a bunch and munch away!

xo

.Nail Polish.

[via]

I admit it. I have got to be the World's hardest person ever on their nails.

My hands are dainty and small, and as my grandmother would say "Perfectly girlish", but the poor suckers get beat up to no avail. And it shows on my nails.

I moisturize. I groom. I even change up my polish every week, but the second I do something....BAM. 

A nail chips. A nail cracks. A nail gets broken.

And don't get me wrong, this post sounds like I am some girly-girl all worried about her nails.....but I'm not. Rest assured. I just wish I had a solution to this problem because, frankly, it sucks. There is nothing I hate more than doing my nails over-and-over again.

Any suggestions?

And in the meantime, while I hate just re-pinning pinterest pictures [it feels lazy], check out all these cool nail combo's popping up for spring.

I am in awe. Now does anyone want to come over and paint them for me?

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.But then again, Baby Boys have such cute loot too.

Like I said yesterday, their sure are a lot of cute things for baby girls out there, but people! Times have changed in the Boy department too!

Check out all these adorable little baby boy items. Now, can you honestly say that girls are more fun to shop for?
Can you?

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

.Baby Girls sure are fun to shop for.

This Saturday was a busy one. Just the way I like 'em.
We attended a baby shower, a birthday [happy birthday marc!] and an awards banquet all in one day.
And although we thoroughly enjoyed each, what really had me surprised was this:
Shopping for baby girl.

Because holy-dyna, there sure are a LOT of cute baby girl items out there. How do you choose?

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

.Happy Six.

Some little things that made the past couple of weeks especially happy.

new boots from my lover. he said they will help make me look more funky.

a day with my foxy momma. enough said.

a big bag of sour soothers. the original kind.

{very!} thoughtful gifts from a lovely lady. thank you miss fi.

beautiful cakes from the 'enjoy centre's' prairie bakery.

fresh flowers from my hubby that keep hanging on weeks later.

.Right Now.

:: pondering what this time next year will bring.
:: marvelling at how much I am finally starting to settle in and feel like this house is my home. only 3 years later.

:: revisiting old recipes from family and friends.

:: plotting out our fireplace reno. And excited about how much it's going to change our bonus/living room.

:: planning on seeing my lovely friend miss fiona this afternoon for a little lunch date. Then planning on devouring an iced coffee right after that. 

:: finishing winter indoor cleaning. Time to prep for the warmer months ahead. And fresh air. Oh, how I can't wait to sit outside and read!

:: stopping myself from sweating the small things. I do that way too often.

:: wondering if I should clean the basement this weekend. It's a disaster.

:: learning how to sort of speak Polish. Slowly. I'd like to know what is being said to me at Easter on the husband's side of things. 

:: listening to some Ryan Adams. Oh man. Oh man. This guy makes me weak at the knees.

:: following so many new blogs lately. The inspiration is pouring out of me right now. Just gotta get some of it actually down on this here blog of mine.
:: loving my necklace today. Wish you could see it. Big, Chunky. Kinda Perfect.

:: missing my husband. He is working 10 hours these days and I'm just not used to it. Money's great, but having P around is better. 

:: hoping that the new book I just started is a nail-bitter.

:: wanting to get out my summer dresses and wear them. Without winter coats overtop.

:: thinking it would be nice if I didn't have to go to the gym tonight.

:: reminding myself that some gym time today will allow me to have a comfortable trip to Europe. Prep for all that walking we'll be doing.

:: making chicken and couscous for dinner tonight......Yay to being healthy and interesting.

:: wishing you a lovely, quiet day filled with some time for yourself to reflect and breath.