Bedroom Update

Even though progress has slowed down, we are still slowly working on our bedroom. And FTR, it's because of spring, not because I'm exhausted 24/7 and chasing a three year old around, bowing to her every command. Anyway, here's a look at the amended list:

• New nightstands
• New bed
• Move file cabinet & bookshelf
• Move mirror & jewelry box to opposite wall
• Paint the walls gray  
• New dresser
• Sunburst mirror above the bed (I FOUND ONE. Now I just need that hot husband of mine to hang it)
• New frames for Norah's pictures (we actually did find some but they also have yet to be hung)
• Replace TV
• Replace carpet 

You may have noticed that I took a few things off. For starters, it was our plan to move some things into the nursery. Well, since we're expecting a new tenant in less than six months (wtf?!), that's out. So the vanity needs to stay where it is and I am saying bye-bye to my reading corner. I also really, really don't think we have room for a bench at the end of the bed. Sad.

The search for the perfect dresser is ongoing. It's also a nightmare. I have been searching Craigslist for 5 months! Same for the mirror. I cannot fathom dishing out $200+ for a damn mirror  BUT then Tarjay to the rescue so fingers crossed my $32 find fits the bill. We had decided not to replace the carpet for like 5 minutes because we were going to sell our house next year and it was just easier to do a carpet allowance and let someone else deal with it but then we decided that instead of moving, we're going to refinance and stay put for a couple years. So replacing carpet is back on the list.

For your patience, I'll reward you with two pictures that are shitty quality. But you can see how awesome my bed looks with that rad wall color! You're welcome.

So, you know, it's coming. Slowly but surely. Any suggestions for where to find a decently priced dresser?

Goat Cheese Scalloped Potatoes

I've been eyeing this recipe for about a year but my husband was insistent no one in his family would eat it despite the fact that goat cheese is so damn delicious it should be a crime. Finally, this week I basically insisted we make it for Easter dinner. My argument being that the goat cheese is surrounded by potatoes and heavy cream. And that we were going to say it was cream cheese. I guess he was tired of hearing about it because he made it and as predicted it was insanely good.

Grandmother-in-law actually discovered our dirty little secret before lunch but managed to keep her trap shut since she actually does like goat cheese. The potatoes were so good that my goat cheese hating mother-in-law had two servings. And that was after we came clean on what was in it! The flavor is definitely there but it's subtle and not overpowering at all. Even if you don't like goat cheese, I really recommend trying these. They were super easy to throw together and by far, the hit of the meal. And while you're on Pink Parsley's site, poke around because she makes damn good food. I hit up her blog often for inspiration.

http://www.pink-parsley.com/2012/04/goat-cheese-potato-gratin.html

Three

Dear Norah,

My sweet girl, you are three today. I will never forget the moment I heard your first cries. You've grown up so much and it makes your momma both proud and a little sad. You are so polite and know all your manners just like a little lady! You love to watch Dora and Cinderella in the afternoons while having a snack. Your favorite foods are fruit, mushrooms, "toodles", rice & gravy, yogurt, and chocolate. Coco and Georgia are your current playmates but soon you will have a baby brother or sister to play with too. You are so excited and love to tell everyone about the baby in mommy's belly! You also are very curious and always want to know what everyone's name is, wherever we go. You also love to tell mommy and daddy that you love us so much, all the time! We love you too, monkey. More than you will ever know!

Love,
Momma

Jesus has a sense of humor

Last year when I needed a place to gripe and keep track of all the things going on in my head, I turned here. One of the first posts I wrote was about my 2012 goals/resolutions/to-do list, which included "get knocked up in 2012". This led to a barrage of "omg, you're having another baby?! Why didn't you tell me?!" emails from people I see on the regular. By "barrage", I obviously mean two. Regardless, I decided to cease talking about my bedroom activities for the time being.

Spoiler alert: I'm pregnant! I could drag you on through this entire post and then tell you but I'm not James Patterson and you didn't pay $24.99 to read this so let's just keep it real.

Back to me. For reasons not relevant to this blog, we started trying in July. I should mention that when I got pregnant with NJ, we talked about it and then a month later I was staring at two pink lines. No one could have been more shocked than me at just how quickly that happened. So it's safe to say I was cocky.

Spoiler alert #2: I'm also naive.

By the end of my July cycle, I am pretty sure I had peed on at least 10 tests, absolutely convinced they were all wrong. But they were not. Neither were the ones in August or September. Then it was Halloween and Thanksgiving. Still nothing. I was heartbroken. We were supposed to get pregnant this year and it just wasn't happening.

In December, I was finishing up what I knew would be our last cycle of 2012. I prayed so hard but it too was negative. There would be no 2012 baby. (This also coincided with a cookie swap where I ingested a LOT of wine and proceeded to bitch for 3 hours about my bed that would never be finished and my vacant uterus. I'm pretty sure I won't be invited back next year.)

The timing for our next cycle was bad. I didn't think we had a chance but lo and behold, on January 12, I saw what I had been hoping for. Today I am 10 weeks & 1 day, due September 24. To say we are elated and grateful is an understatement.

A couple days after finding out I looked at my chart to see if I could pinpoint the date of conception. And I could. December 31, 2012. We did the dirty and then five minutes later watched the ball drop.

Well played, Jesus. Well played.

Not the best but it will do

I haven't made my bed since we painted and moved all the furniture back in the bedroom hence no pretty, staged shot but I did snap this pic with my phone as we were moving the (very heavy) bed.

It at least shows the wall and the tray colors. It really looks amazing with the bed and the comforter so I will attempt to make the bed this week. No promises.

Finished!

We finally painted the bedroom this weekend. Yay!! I use the term "we" very loosely. My fab friend who is a master trimmer came over to help me on Saturday. She trimmed while I rolled. Then she left and I did some more rolling after a much needed nap. The mister did help with that part but that's the only time his hand touched a brush. She ended up coming back on Sunday and eating my pizza for dinner but that was ok because she also finished trimming. And it looks AMAZING.

Seriously. I cannot get over how awesome it looks. The color is so much more mellow and light. We ended up doing a lighter gray on the walls and then a darker gray on the tray. We were only going to do the inside part of the tray but ended up doing the outside part as well and even though that meant going to Lowe's in the middle of it all, it was definitely the right decision. Because it looks AMAZING.

The mister hung our curtains back up last night and they look great against the lighter color. We're going to move the rest of our furniture tonight and I'll take some pictures. I can't wait to share them!

ps-I keep forgetting to get the names of the colors that we used but I swear I'm on top of that tonight.

Sammiches

I love me some sammiches, y'all. Jimmy John's is my BFF except they don't deliver to my office and THAT is a problem. We're not really doing anything for the SuperBowl because I'm painting the bedroom this weekend (!!!!) and anticipate being really tired Sunday night but I am going to make some mini-sammiches. Otherwise known as sliders. But I prefer mini-sammiches.

They've been floating around Pinterest forever and a day but it's those little ham and cheese ones on a Hawaiian roll? With the sauce? I think I want to make them for the Blue Elephant party that I am currently slacking on planning but I need a test run to make sure they are delicious. I figured the SuperBowl was as good a time as any to test out mini-sammiches.

Here's the recipe I'm going to use: Mini Ham & Cheese Sandwiches

She also has a Cuban version. Not going to lie, I kind of want to make those too because I love nothing more than a good Cuban sammich.We shall see if I'm up to it. If you recall, I made delish pretzels and honey mustard sauce last year. Those lasted about 5 seconds. But they are a lot of work. I think next time I may just do them in a thick roll and then cut off actual bites with a bench scraper. Anywho, I'm a Ravens fan this weekend if for no other reason than my husband is rooting for the 49ers and I have to cancel him out. OH! And I'd totally love to see Michael Oher walk away with a ring. You've seen The Blind Side, right? Tears. I can't even.

GEAUX RAVENS!!!