Saturday, January 21, 2017

The stroller that saved me this week!

I think that the goals of posting and cooking for this week were a little lofty.. All of my energy was devoted to work and little Lincoln... he went to work with me and let me tell you 11 hour days with a baby were draining. By the time I got home I had NO energy to cook dinner or write a blog post.

Let me tell you though Lincoln was SOOOO well behaved! He still sleeps of a majority of the day so he slept in his new stroller and when I needed to go brief the boss or pack things up he just went with me.

I had purchased a bassinet to keep at work but it was really the stroller that I used the whole time due to the fact that I was in and out of my office the whole time. The BabyZen YoYo+ stroller is AMAZING. 

I didn't think that I needed another stroller with number four but this stroller is GAME CHANGER! 



So compact, easy to maneuver with just one hand, comfy for baby to sleep in the pram, folds up SUPER small, and easy to fold/unfold.

I HIGHLY recommend!!!!

Monday, January 16, 2017

Monday Meal Planning: The Quick Six Fix

I haven't been regularly cooking for about 1-2 months now and so I'm really excited to get back into meal planning and cooking from a different cookbook each week. This week our dinners will come from The Quick Six Fix by Stuart O'Keeffe.The basic concept is that each recipe uses only 6 ingredients, takes 6 minutes of prep, and 6 minutes of cleanup.


Monday: Lemony Artichoke Spaghetti (p.75)
Tuesday: BLTA Steak Salad (p.41)
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Chicken Risotto w/ Asparagus (p.106)
Friday: Chowdered Scallops (p.92)
Saturday: Cider Pork Chops with Broccolini (p.131) and Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Sunday: Dinner out

Sunday, January 15, 2017

January 2017 Goals

The original plan was to post Lincoln's birth story today but I haven't finish writing it. So instead of not posting at all I decided to go ahead and share my monthly goals.

I pulled out my newest notebook, from my friend Kim, and started my very first list within its pages... She knows that I love making a list!!!


So here they are! 

Already accomplished that first one!!!

Finish Lincoln's Room: Need to add a little more artwork and a bumper

Update Emma's Closet: Emma no longer wants the chalkboard doors and she has a ton of clothes/activities/games that she has outgrown over the past few years... so it is time for a little update... plus the walls have come off the track because each night Sophie sneaks into Emma's closet to sleep and has been pushing the doors the wrong way to get inside.

Touch-up Paint in the House: There are a few walls in the house that are in need of a touch-up and I figure that each day, after the 20th, I will pick one room and just spend 30 minutes with a little refresh.

Blog 10 Times: This s post three so I'm on the way.

Read Two Books: I received a few books for Christmas and I want to take the time to read them.

Start Business Planning Again: I was doing so well with getting Birch Event and Design up and running UNTIL I started my new job in October... But starting Friday my workload will greatly decrease so I need to get back into the swing of things! I hope to have the website live by early February and need to get my name out there!

Create a Budget for the Year: New Year... New Budget!

Friday, January 13, 2017

Park Family Fall Photos

I had every intention of getting this posted earlier in the day but Lincoln and I had our first full day back at work. He did a great job and with only three work days left until the end of the Administration... I feel like it is the right thing to do.

So I LOVE taking family photos. It is fun seeing, via photos, how much my kiddos have grown up in the last year and I needed a photo for our Christmas card. I do admit that I was second-guessing myself as we were standing in the streets of Old Town in the wind and it was only 35 degrees out...but again totally worth it after seeing the images.

All photo credit goes to the talented Virginia of House of Maps Photography.

















Cannot wait to get some of these printed and up on our gallery wall!

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Getting back into the swing of things...

To say that a lot has happened since my last post on October 24th is an understatement. I've been VERY busy with cooking/delivering a baby, becoming Director of Protocol, celebrating Christmas, preparing for transition, being mom and wife, and just doing the daily items that keep us all busy.

One of my goals for the new year is to be better about blogging and well doing things just because I want to do them... Also, with so many family members that don't live close by this is often the main way that they keep up with what the Park Family is up to.

Here's the plan for the rest of this week and next.

FRIDAY: Park Family Fall Photos
SUNDAY: Gibson's Birth Story
MONDAY: Monday Meal Plan
TUESDAY: Goals for the Month
THURSDAY: DoD Farewell
FRIDAY Favorite Things Friday