Chevron Messenger Diaper Bag

With each of my pregnancies I went in search of the "perfect" diaper bag -- something that was functional (love me some pockets!!!) and also stylish.  I went through several diaper bags but none of them was what I was looking for.  Wouldn't you know it, now that I'm done having kids I have finally found the perfect one?!

My sister had her first baby two years ago and being the talented seamstress she is, made her own diaper bag.  Brilliant! It has about a hundred different pockets and lots of personal touches. And it is CUTE!  I am seriously in love with her bag.  Not enough to want more kids, but you get the idea.  ;)

She's started selling them in her etsy store.  If you or anyone else you know is pregnant, you should check out this bag.  I'm telling you, you will be so happy with it! You can view it HERE.


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Things We Love Thursdays: Rold Gold Peppermint Snowflakes

My friend introduced me to these delectable little treats. I picked them up from Costco, but I'm not sure where else you can get them. They are snowflake shaped pretzels dipped in peppermint white chocolate. They are soooo yummy! They satisfy my craving for a salty/sweet treat.

Do you have a favorite treat you can only get during the holidays?

-marie

Things We Love Thursdays: Savers

I stumbled up this thrift store on accident.  We were driving home from Utah a while ago and let's just say it was NOT a fun trip.  The kids were tired and not interested in sitting in the car for 10 hours.  So we made a stop to let them get out and run around.  We walked into Savers having no idea what kind of a store it was.  But the first thing I saw were the shelves and shelves of books and didn't make it any further than that!

They had so many used books in great condition and most were a dollar or less.  Plus they have a promotion where you buy 4 and get the 5th free.  Yeah, I was in heaven! We got a few books for me and some for the kids.  They were happy to have something "new" to read and look at in the car and I was happy it bought us at least a few minutes of sanity.  :)

I have to say, I've been to several Savers now and really couldn't tell you about the rest of the store -- the books and I are besties.  :)  But it looks really clean inside so I'm sure they have more great finds.  I'm thrilled that they *just* put one in down the street from me!!!  I will have a fabulous library built up in no time.

-marie

Things We Love Thursdays: Laughing Cow Cheese

I absolutely LOVE Laughing Cow Cheese.  It is so yummy and is low in calories.  I love to eat it spread on crackers, in place of mayo on sandwiches, or mixed in with tuna.  I've tried almost every flavor and I haven't found one I didn't like.  

I recently came across a recipe blog called Green Lite Bites.  She works with Laughing Cow and comes up with all kinds of recipes to use it in.  My favorites are the tuna melts and nacho cheese dip.  Mmmm!

How do you eat Laughing Cow Cheese?

-marie

Things We Love Thursdays: Downton Abbey

I know, I know.  I'm a little late jumping on the Downton Abbey bandwagon.  But better late than never, right?!  We got Netflix a couple months ago so I was able to watch the first season and Amazon Prime just recently added the second season so I was finally able to get caught up.  I absolutely adore this show.  If you haven't watched, you MUST!  Here are my top 5 reasons to watch:

1. The Characters.  There are so many great characters on this show from the Crawley family to the enormous staff -- ones you'll fall in love with and ones you'll just love to hate!

 

2. The Romance.  There are so many great love stories at work here, both in the privileged and the staff.  You can't help but root for these couples but, of course, things are never easy for them.

3. The Accents.  Hello, does anyone ever tire of British accents?  I love listening to them and find myself speaking with an accent after I've watched too much. :P

4. The Fashion.  Oh how I LOVE to see what they are wearing! It's such an elegant time period and I love seeing the styles and wishing I could just snag some of their beautiful dresses and jewelry for myself.

5. Maggie Smith.  Um, can I just say I love her?! She is such a hoot on this show and has the best one liners!

So, have you jumped on the Downton bandwagon yet?  Do you have a favorite character?  Are you DYING until the next season comes out like I am?!?!

-marie

Things We Love Thursdays: Take & Toss Cups

We drink a lot of smoothies in our house and let me just say, sippy cups do NOT work well with those!  The valves always get clogged and the boys can't drink their smoothies.  And regular cups are out cuz one little tip too far and the contents are all over the floor.  I found these Take & Toss Cups cups at Target (only $3 for a 5-pack!) and decided to give them a try.  I LOVE them!  The lids fit on tight and the straws slide in very tightly so they don't leak.  (Unless of course your kid tips it completely upside down -- then it will dribble out of the straw.)  I always love when I can find exactly what I need. :)

Things We Love Thursdays: Mini Popsicles

I just LOVE these mini popsicles!  They are the perfect size for little toddler hands and because they are small they get eaten quickly with very little mess.  I always stock up on these during the summer!

What I Read: March

This was a pretty good reading month for me.  I didn't read a whole lot, but the books I did read I really enjoyed.  (Although two were actually re-reads!)  Love it when I have so many good books!


Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was one of my favorites in the series the first time I read it and listening to the audio was just as good, if not better! Jim Dale does such an amazing job narrating these books. Even though I knew everything that was going to happen, I still found myself laughing, crying, holding my breath and feeling the tension. Pure magic!!!



Divergent by Veronica Roth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Update 5/5/12
I decided to give this book a second chance since so many people seem to really love it. I listened to it on audio and really enjoyed the narrator. I liked it more this second time around (and rated it a little better!) but I have to say I still have the same reservations I had the first time. I just didn't connect with this book. I don't know if it was Tris, the factions, the writing or what. Maybe it's just that I was expecting too much? At any rate, it's still a really good book and I am anxiously awaiting book 2!

Original review 9/23/11
I really wanted to LOVE this book, but instead I just kinda liked it. The second half was better than the first, but there was still something that didn't sit quite right with me. Maybe it was just the whole concept of factions. To me it just wasn't believable enough. Most dystopian books seem very extreme, but at the same time I actually buy into it. This one I just couldn't wholeheartedly accept. I also never really fell in love with Tris. I liked a lot of the "supporting" characters better I think! But all in all it was an entertaining read and I am interested enough to keep reading the series and find out what happens next! :)


Insurgent by Veronica RothMy rating: 5 of 5 stars

After not really getting the hype for Divergent, I have to say this book made up for it! I absolutely loved it. There was action, suspense, emotion and humor sprinkled throughout. I loved getting a better look into each of the factions and it finally started feeling more believable to me. Loved the twists and turns and even though some of them were a bit predictable I still found myself holding my breath and dropping my jaw. I LOVED the audio version for this. Emma Galvin was absolutely amazing! The wait for the next book will be excruciating!



Dust & Decay by Jonathan Maberry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The beginning of this book was a little slow, but then things picked up and it was fast-paced till the end. There were so many times where my mind was reeling, wondering what certain things meant and I can't wait until the next book to find out the answers and see where this leads. I really enjoyed the characters and it was nice to get more points-of-view from some of them. I listened to the audio for the last 3/4 of the book and I'm so glad I did. The narrator did such a great job with some of the characters. I especially loved J-Dog & Dr. Skillz!!!



The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have really enjoyed this series! It's kinda creepy and reminds me a little of the show Criminal Minds. It was a little predictable at times, but I'm very interested to see where the story leads. I liked getting a glimpse into the lives of her team and I hope we'll see even more from them.




A Million Suns by Beth Revis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book, I think more than the first one! The one thing that bothered me was that it didn't really make sense for Orion to send them on a hunt for clues instead of just telling them the big "secret". The only reason I can think of was just to make the book more suspenseful and interesting -- which it definitely was! I was not prepared for the twists in this one and I am soooo anxious to read the next book to find out what happens!

The Bowling Alley

In Heber, they have an old bowling alley that we love to go to! It is retro inside and has a fun atmosphere. The kids love to bowl and we love the food! Every now and then I just love a good ol' greasy burger and the ones here are worth the calories. 

I always order their "English Chips" instead of regular fries. They are just so good. When I was in high school we lived in New Zealand for 18 months, Buff was born and raised in New Zealand, and I just miss the fish 'n' chips there. These English chips hit home for me! Although the food is great I think the drinks are even better. They make old school syrup homemade Cherry Coke and Vanilla Coke! It is worth going there for just the Coke alone, I think! 

If you should ever find yourself in the Heber Valley in Utah, you should stop in the bowling alley and give it a try!

-chelz

Things We Love Thursdays: Cherry Vanilla Protein Shake

Can I just say I LOVE this shake?!  It's perfectly sweet, has the perfect consistency, is good for you, and is just plain yummy! 

I saw this recipe on Fit, Crafty, Stylish and Happy and knew I needed to try it.  I recently started using weights and am learning the importance of protein as I do so.  I've never used protein powder before.  Or stevia.  Or frozen cherries.  I've also never used cottage cheese in a smoothie before (but now that I know about it I will use it more often! It gave the shake such a great consistency.) I can't wait to try some other protein shake recipes, but for now I am enjoying this one every day. :)



You can get the recipe HERE. 

Raspberry Angel Dream Dessert

My boss brought this into work for us to try....
                                    Oh my goodness this huge dessert is divine & only 90 calories....

It looked really good, but it tasted sooo much better than it looked, and each portion was 1/5 of the sugar free Angel Food cake. She said for 2 weeks they ate it every night for dessert on their diet, and they lost weight. They never got sick of it because it was so filling and yummy. Finally after 2 weeks she felt like she was finally willing to share some with us, and we were so glad she did. Everyone of us ate the whole thing...
It is such a quick and easy dessert to make. Here's her recipe and thanks a bunch Peggy..

1 9oz Sugar Free Angel Food cake (in the WalMart bakery) ask if you can't find it, it may be in their freezer.
1 Lg. tub Lite Coolwhip
4 cups Fresh or frozen Raspberries
1 Tbsp.Splenda

Combine thawed raspberries and splenda and mix thoroughly. Spoon some raspberry mix on top of 1/5 of  the Angel Food cake and top with Coolwhip and enjoy. Just looking at the photos gives me warm fuzzies..

                                                                                -Buff-

Things We Love Thursdays: Pillsbury Cookie Dough

 "I believe in big, warm, moist, gooey chocolate chip cookies that melt in your mouth and all over your face."

-Shawn Spencer, Psych

Okay, I could probably write a whole post of reasons why I love Psych - the above quote only one of MANY - but this post is about cookies.  Big, warm cookies.  I LOVE chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven, dipped in a mug of cold milk.  But I don't like to make my own.  When I get a hankering for them, I want them NOW. And I don't want dozens that will sit around the house tempting me to eat more --  just a few will suffice.  Which is why one of my favorite things is this giant tub of Pillsbury Cookie Dough from Sam's Club.  I've tried several brands, but this is by far my favorite.  I get soft, fluffy cookies -- not flat or crispy or greasy ones like some other brands I've tried.  When I'm in a mood for cookies, I scoop out a few spoonfuls onto a pan (and yes, usually a spoonful into my mouth!), bake 'em, and I am one happy girl.  :)

Do you have any food indulgences?

Gearing up for the Games

Just over 2 weeks til Hunger Games comes out and Chelsea and I are SO EXCITED!  We absolutely devoured the books and since we read them together (well, not together together -- that would be weird!) We spent many hours on the phone with each other discussing every little detail and every character -- what we loved, what we hated, what made us cry. (Our reading habits totally remind me of this pin I saw on Pinterest)

I recently listened to the audio books for the series and fell in love all over again.  And the new single Safe & Sound by Taylor Swift?  LOVE!  It is so hauntingly beautiful and so perfect for the soundtrack. Just watching the music video gives me chills.









I really wish I could see the movie with Chelsea (or any one of my awesome sisters!!!) but alas we all live too far apart.  :( 

To gear up for the Games I decided to make a fun little craft.  These pendants are super easy and you can use them on a necklace or key chain.

What you'll need:

• 1.25" wood squares (I got mine at Hobby Lobby -- 6 pk for $1.47)
• bails (found in the jewelry section at craft stores)
• graphic
• Mod Podge  
• Glossy Accents
• sand paper

1. First you'll want to print off your image onto cardstock and cut it to size.  
2. Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to the wood square and attach your cardstock.  (You could apply a layer of Mod Podge on top but I didn't bother with that!)  File the edges with sandpaper if there is any overlapping paper.  I also like to "rough" up the edges a bit for a more distressed look. 
3. Apply the Glossy Accents, making sure to apply it all the way to the edges and not allowing any bubbles. Allow to dry several hours, or overnight.  This gives it a really cool glossy, hard finish.  
4. Next, attach the bail (I used a dab of hot glue) and thread it onto a string or chain or ribbon or key chain.  And now you have your own little piece of the Hunger Games. :)

I created several different versions you can use if you use the 1.25" squares.  You can right click and save the image you want or click HERE for all images or click HERE for a printable of all designs.

Happy Hunger Games!!!!

-marie

Linked to - Rae Gun Ramblings, Craft-O-Maniac, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Keeping It Simple, Becolorful, C.R.A.F.T. 
Sugar & Spice, Fine Craft Guild, Classy Clutter, Sugar Bee Crafts, Michelle Paige, Oopsey Daisy, Lil Luna,