Birth Stories

I have been so into Birth Stories lately. Since I am now officially 18 weeks, one more week until we have the ultrasound, I have started thinking alot about my own delivery. It is a ways off but home births, midwives, epidurals, birth centers have been on my mind. I will keep you posted on my thoughts.

If you are into birth stories as much as I am, here are a few places to read:

Cjane ~ she just recounted the birth of her second child at home.

Progressive Pioneer ~ stories from other guest bloggers about personal home/natural births (stories are interspersed with other posts)

Design Mom ~ on her own sixth baby, guest bloggers share birth stories.

Tom and Lucy's Art Shoppe

It is that time of year again: Tom and Lucy's Spring Art Shoppe. I love hosting Tom and Lucy's Art Shoppe. The vendors are amazing, the products are one-of-a-kind and it is the funnest weekend in Utah!! If you live in my area stop by, I would love to see you!!

Tom and Lucy's Art Shoppe

This Thursday, Friday and Saturday April 22nd-24th, 2010

Ivory Ridge Swim and Tennis Club

Directions Here.

Sneak Peak of some of the amazing products available: Stop by the Shoppe if you want to see them in person!!

Baby's Nursery

I have a secret addiction to Nurseries. I love to browse blogs, magazines, shops, friends and family nurseries. I even fantasy about my new Baby's Nursery. With only two weeks left before we find out the gender of our baby, I have started making tentative plans for both sexes. Blogland has given me so many great ideas and it is fun to mentally mix and match ideas.

If the baby is a girl I plan to do a red, pink, white and strawberry themed nursery. ~ no surprise there!

If the baby is a boy I am planning a green, sea blue, black and polka-dot theme. Lots of DOTS!!

With my stash of fabric either one of these themes will be easy to please with curtains, quilts, bumper pads and other such baby stuff.

I also love banners and swags ~ no surprise there either! and I just purchased/picked up these cards from a great etsy gal in my local area. (cards: pictures above)  How lucky am I?? She creates and makes the most amazing vintage products. I have purchased a few things from her, but dream about purchasing alot more.

I was also able to snag these tiny painted clips at a local store. They will look great with the vintage cards.

These adorable vintage cards I think will work for a boy or girl and I plan to display them in the baby's room in a banner/swag with the baby's name. I will definently show you how it all comes together once we find out the gender!!

Delicous Carrott Cake

Every Easter I make a carrot cake, my Mom did it and now I do it. I love my carrot cake recipe. It is just the right blend of carrots, nuts, coconut and cinnamon. I love the moist bounce back feel and of course the cream cheese frosting!!

Since I still felt terrible while I made this cake, I let the boys decorate it and made it easy on myself: colored coconut and M&M's.

Carrot Cake:

3 eggs
2 cups white sugar
8 oz. crushed pineapple ~ drained of juice
1 1/2 cups oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
~ cream above ingredients until smooth

2 cups carrots shredded
1 cup coconut
~ add to above mixture

2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
~ sift and combine with carrots

Mix completely but not over stir or beat.

1 cup chopped walnuts (my favorite!)
~ add nuts to batter

Pour into a angle food cake or bundt pan. Grease liberally. Cook at 350 for 60-70 minutes until toothpick comes clean.

Allow to cake completely cook and then add cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

8 0z. cream cheese ~ room temperature
1 cube butter ~ room temperature
4-5 cups of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla.

~ Beat cheese and butter together, add vanilla and then sift in powdered sugar. Add more sugar if not thick enough.

Spring Break '10

Playing at Leo Carrillo State Beach

Last week was Spring Break in our school district as well as my Sister's in California. So I bribed my husband to take the week off and drive with us to sunny So. California for some much needed R and R! When I mean bribing, I mean:

Perfect day playing at the beach
Eating my sister's amazing cooking
Shopping at the Los Angeles Farmer's Market
Sight seeing at L.A.'s Natural History Museum
Eating at Neptune's Net in Malibu
Relaxing in the spa and playing games in the pool

Hanging out at the Farmer's Market

It is always hard to pack up and drive home but one perk of coming home is my garden. My perennials are starting to poke through the ground after a very cold winter and alot of my orange daffodils are in bloom. I can't wait to see my delphiniums, peonies, lamb's ear, day lilies, columbine and iris' in just a few short weeks blooming.

Even if the mountains are STILL snowy and we don't have California's perfect weather ~ Spring in Utah just can't be beat!

Coloring Easter Eggs

Despite the nauseau we colored Easter Eggs this afternoon. We got together with friends, and frankly, I knew that was the only way I would actually go through with it (see post below). Here's the proof:

I got the tip for using a wire wisk from Camille. Very helpful for younger kids.