It's October

Which means one thing.

I go back to work this month.  It's been an amazing {almost} five months off!  Five months, holy cow!  That's almost half a year!  I'm very lucky in that sense.

Three weeks from today I'll be back to the grind.  Back in the swing of things.  Back. to. work. 

So, I'm going to quit blogging for the day and go enjoy my {almost} three month old before my time is all up.  Happy Monday!

 

A Makeover for the Wall

Gone is the collage of frames and photos of our nieces, nephews, and extended fam.  {Sorry peeps, we love ya lots, but nothing compares to pics of our own, beautiful child.}  In place are clean, simple, large, 16x20 frames for photos of just our immediate little family.  Well, mostly Brantley right now, but once we get family photos taken this fall, one or two will be replaced.

A whopping ten weeks after his newborn session, I am finally able to stare at the amazing photos each and every day as they hang our living room wall.  It took me awhile to decide what I wanted.  I thought I knew: large square (20x20ish) frames with an opening at least 8x10 inches big.  I search everywhere for huge, square frames.  But square = hard. to. find.  The only ones I found were at Pottery Barn for $50 each.  No thanks.  Not when I need five or six of them.

So I had to change my approach slightly.  I found large, rectangular frames at Kohl's for 11x14 photos.  Close enough.

I needed the hubby's help to hang them.  However, what started as a simple "Let's redo the photos on our wall" turned into "Let's fix some nail pops, repaint two entire walls, redo the photos, and redecorate our house."  Well, not really, but sort of.  We moved decor from downstairs upstairs and vice versa.  I'll consider that redecorating. :) 

It took us forever to figure out how to arrange the frames.  We just couldn't get them to look right.  Five frames or six?  Horizontal or vertical?  Even spaces or clustered together?  Lots of nail holes and pencil marks later, we are finally happy with the end results.

What do you think?

{They really are huge frames, I promise.  The pictures are just taken from far away!}

Out and About, Exploring Our Great City

So as I mentioned in my post on Friday, we had big weekend plans to visit the Louisburg Cider Mill over the weekend.  Not only is it a Cider Mill, but also a pumpkin patch with a corn maze, hayride...you know, all the fun, fall stuff like that!  It was also Ciderfest, which I guess just means they have vendors selling things (Pampered Chef, Thirty One, etc.).  We've been to the pumpkin patch in Gardner, but I had heard that this one was way better. 

However, we were a bit disappointed in the whole ordeal.  Ciderfest was free, but pretty small and compact.  There wasn't much room to push around a stroller, nor was the store very stroller-friendly.  The Baby Bjorn would have been a much smarter choice, but unfortunately we forgot to bring it.  We, of course, took some festive fall photos (which is what really matters!), but that's about it.  The pumpkin patch/corn maze/hayride was in a completely separate area, across the parking lot, and the charge was $8 to enter.  There were activities for kiddos inside that area, but we decided not to pay...it's not like Brantley could have participated in the activities anyway, so we basically would have paid $8 each to pick out {and buy} pumpkins from the pumpkin patch.  No thanks.  I'll just to go Hy-Vee.

I'm sure we'll give it a go again next year when Brantley is old enough to participate in some of the activities, but to be honest, this year it was kind of lame.  However, some people swear by this place, so check it out and decide for yourself!

After leaving Louisburg, we were driving back up 69 Highway and saw signs for the Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.  Craig and I have lived in this city of ours for five and six years, respectively, yet neither of us have ever been!  So we decided to take a little detour and stop there.  Very cool place!  We walked the trails and enjoyed the fabulous fall day.  And that's about it for our Sunday funday.

Cider Fest

Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

Friday Photo Dump

Happy Friday!  We have a pretty low-key weekend planned with the exception of Louisburg Cider Mill's Cider Fest on Sunday!  Yay for a fun, fall activity!  Oh, and redoing the frames up our stairs...see below.

Stay tuned for pics of both next week!

Top: New over-sized frames | New football hat knitted by one of Mommy's friends | Chatting with Daddy

Middle: Big KU fan | Like father, like son - Daddy always curls his toes like this! | So human-like

Bottom: Old Navy colored jeans for $19?  Yes, please! | First pumpkin spice latte of the season | Iowa baby

Nursery Additions

I change my mind a lot.  Though I loooove Brantley's nursery, I decided to change it up just a bit.  Added two more wall hangings above the changing table, changed the stuff on the floating shelf, and added a hat rack.  Every boy needs a hat rack, right? :)

We finally stamped his footprints, too!  I meant to do that weeks ago, but never got around to it.

On a related note, have you heard of the website Project Nursery?  My friend Jessica told me about it.  Basically, it's a website with hundreds and hundreds of nursery photos!  And not professional designer's photos, but the average person's nursery photos.  Anyone can upload photos of their own nursery!  I mean, I got some great ideas from Pinterest, but how amazing is this website?  I'll definitely be using it when planning for Baby #2!

Freezer Meals

Remember all those meals I made throughout the month of June?  Well, we've eaten almost all of them! Some were excellent, others just okay.  I thought I'd share some of my faves.  These work very well for making ahead of time and freezing.  Or, of course, you can make them the day of, too!

Chicken and Wild Rice

1 box wild rice with seasoning packet

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can water

1 can mushrooms, drained

6 boneless skinless chicken thighs, uncooked

1 cup slivered almonds

Mix together rice with seasoning packet, both cans of soup, and water.  Stir in mushrooms.  Pour in to 8X8 freezer dish.  Top with 6 chicken pieces and sprinkle with slivered almonds.

Cooking Instructions: Thaw and bake uncovered at 350 for 1 hour until chicken juices run clear and rice is tender. 

These next two recipes are ones my mom made often, as I was growing up.

Chicken Pot Pie

2 cans cream of potato soup

1 16oz bag frozen mixed veggies

2 cups cooked, shredded chicken*

1/2 cup milk

1/2 tsp thyme

1/2 tsp pepper

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 pie crust, double (Hy-Vee or Pilsbury refrigerated)

Combine first six ingredients.  Spoon into pie crust.  Cover with top crust.  Crimp edges to seal.  Slit top crust, brush with egg.

Cooking Instructions: Bake at 375 for 40 minutes.  Cool 10 minutes before serving.

Beef Enchiladas

1 pound hamburger

Shredded Mexican cheese

Velveeta

Chopped onion

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can tomato soup

1 can enchilada sauce

Tortilla shells

Cook hamburger.  Add onion and Velveeta.  Combine soups and enchilada sauce.  Place heaping spoonful of meat on shell, wrap, and place seam-side down in 9x13 pan.  Spoon soup mixture over top.  Top with cheese.

Cooking Instructions: Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.  Top with lettuce, tomato, black olives, sour cream, cheese, and other favorite toppings if you wish! 

This last one I got from the Queso Blanco Velveeta box.

White Cheese Chicken Enchiladas

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts - cooked and shredded*

2 (12 oz) cans green enchilada sauce

6 oz Queso Blanco Velveeta, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

12 tortillas

Combine chicken, 1/2 cup enchilada sauce, and half the Velveeta.  Pour 1/2 cup of remaining sauce on bottom of greased 9x13 baking dish.  Spoon 1/4 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla.  Roll and place seam-side down in baking dish.  Top with remaining sauce and Velveeta.

Cooking Instructions: Bake at 375 for 20 minutes, or until enchiladas are heated through and Velveeta is melted.

*The best way {I've found} to shred chicken is to cook it on the stove, in boiling water, for about an hour.  Remove from water and refrigerate; shred once it's cool enough to handle.

Shutterfly Site

It's no surprise I take lots of photos.  If it is a surprise, clearly you don't know me very well. 

Anyway, the format of this blog makes it very difficult to post every single photo I take.  And I'm too indecisive to pick favorites.  And I want to share them all!  Because Brantley is just too darn cute!  So I decided to start a free Shutterfly website to upload and share photo albums of my sweet baby boy.

But...not only does the website allow for photos, but also videos, growth charts, milestones (my personal fave), and more--basically, all-things-Brantley!  Sort of like an online baby book.

Additionally, if a family member wants to order photos of our little man, you can do so directly and easily through this website from Shutterfly.  Cool, right?

So, follow this link (http://craigandsarahsidesfamily.shutterfly.com/) and browse to your little heart's desire.  I think you can even sign up to become a member so you can comment on photos and write in the guestbook.  Website password is brantley with a lowercase b. 

There's also a link to access the website to the right! ------> 

(Did you notice that link weeks ago??  Sorry, it's taken me awhile to get the website up and running!)

Enjoy!

Friday Photo Dump

Happy Friday, followers!

Top: Watching Daddy play softball again | Go Hawks! | Strong neck muscles | Yay colored jeans!

Middle: Daddy and his mini-me | I-O-W-A | Smiles

Bottom: Lots and lots and lots of smiles

 

Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'

We have a roller!  Last night marks the first time Brantley rolled from his belly to his back!  And not once, but twice!  The first time, I thought it was just a fluke.  But then I rolled him back to his belly and he did it again...and Daddy saw that time!  Of course, once I unlocked my phone to try and record roll #3, he was done. 

His sole purpose for rolling is that he HATES tummy time.  Hates it.  I don't blame him.  I'd hate it, too, if my face was buried in the floor.  However, just this week, I've noticed that he uses his super strong neck muscles to hold his head very high...another milestone in itself! 

Look at me and my strong neck muscles!

And for fun, here are some pictures I snapped of him smiling BIG last night.  Have I mentioned how much I love his smile?? :)  I can't help but take pictures of it every. single. day.  Last night, he was smiling at the blinds.  So funny to watch him smile at the most ordinary, everyday stuff!  Who needs toys when you have blinds, stair spindles, and ceiling fans?

Smiling big at the blinds

 

My Favorite Things: Pregnancy Edition

In keeping with my 'Favorite Things' posts (here, here, and here), I thought I'd post some of my favorite pregnancy items.  Partially to share with other prego girls, but also so that I remember when it comes time for Baby #2!

1. Preggie Pop Drops - Supposed to help nausea.  I sucked on these things quite a bit in those first few month of pregnancy.

2. Leachco Snoogle - The popular pregnancy pillow.  I didn't use it towards the very end of my pregnancy (it crowded me and made me too hot), but used it from about week 20 through 35.  It was expensive...like $55 (I opted not to spend $25 more on a pillow case!)...but worth it!

3. Old Navy tanks - Actually Old Navy maternity clothes in general.  I blogged about my love for the clothing line earlier this spring.  Cute and cheap.  I specifically liked the tank tops though.  They are long and extremely comfortable.  Despite packing away most of my maternity clothes, these still hang in my closet and are a staple to my daily wardrobe. :)

4. Old Navy Maternity Smocked-Waist Tiered Skirts - Loved these, as well!  So, so comfortable!

5. Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy - A must-read for all pregnant girls!  Written by Jenny McCarthy, this book is hilarious and very real. 

6. Ingrid & Isabel Bellaband - This thing allowed me to wear my pre-pregnancy pants and jeans for a looooong time!  I loved it!  I would suggest splurging on the Ingrid & Isabel brand name rather than the Target brand.  It was thicker and more snug.

7. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lotion for Stretch Marks - I started using this around 25 weeks of pregnancy and used it consistently two times per day until Brantley was born.  And I have no stretch marks.  Though maybe I just have good genes?