Hunter 27 Weeks

So Emma took our 27 Week Photo...

This week...

• Hunter received his first set of wheels... Just needs to grow into them.
• Hunter Loves to sit up in his pack-n-play and reaches for his toys and just plays and laughs 
• He continues to love story time. I'm sure that little man will be a reader just like his big sister.  He especially loves it when Emma reads to him.
• Hunter continues to be a little eater and is willing to try everything. He gets very offended if we eat something and he isn't also eating with us. Silly man also gets super excited every time he sees us get a glass of water and he always wants a sip.

30 before 30 Update

Thirty by Thirty UPDATE

The last time I updated this list was OVER a year ago... and while A LOT has happened in my life... not too much has been crossed off.

Also, I have to say that my priorities have changed since originally coming up with this list a few years ago... 

Here is my update.

Here is my Thirty by Thirty

1. Get Married Married the most wonderful man January 29, 2011

2. Become a Home Owner - Matt and I bought a home in Alexandria September 17, 2010

3. Take Emma to Disney World -  We took Emma to Disney November 2011 and had a BLAST!
4. Go Scuba Diving... asked for a scuba class for my birthday... we will see what happens with that
5. Become a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)
6. Go on a Winery Tour - Traverse City Old Mission Wine Tour

7. Get a Dog We have beautiful Sophie in our lives! 

8. Take a Cooking Class
9. Run a 5K- Signed up for Run or Dye in June with Emma and some friends!

10. Plant a Vegetable Garden - Currently looking to start this in the spring!

11. Take a Photography Class
12. Spend a Minimum of 4 days Hiking and Camping with Matt
13. Take Emma Camping

14. Cook a Full Thanksgiving Dinner - Done and Done... Thanksgiving 2012

15. Do a Family Photo Session and use the Picture for a Photo Holiday Card- Done Christmas 2012

16. Go to Europe with Matt
17. Take Dance Lessons - Took a Hip hop class... hated it
18. Give up Fruit Snacks… Gave them up while preggers with Hunter. But now I buy the Simply Fruit Ones... Matt says that is good enough. 

19. Take a Family Vacation with another Family

20. Enlarge a Photograph that I’ve Taken and display as artwork in my home
21. Become a Government Employee
22. Find a cheap and hideous piece of furniture to refinish/reupholster and make it BEAUTIFUL - I've done this!!! Cannot wait to share... Saving for a post about Emma's room.
23. Create a Fitness Goal and stick to it- worked out with a trainer before my wedding
24. Redesign and decorate an entire home… on a budget - work in progress
25. Get my Event Planning Business up and running
26. Become active in the PTA
27. Give Emma a brother or sister - Hunter Matthew Park was born September 12, 2012

28. Become organized enough to scrapbook
29. Cook at home for a full Month... another SUPER Hard one
30. Go two months without buying clothes - I did this right before my wedding but up until a week ago I had actually gone 4 months without buying anything new for myself... I've just been enjoying my already owned pre-pregnancy clothes too much :)

so I have 14 more items on my list... granted a few are about to be crossed off in the coming months... but that is not a very good track record! 

Here are the ones that I KNOW I'm not going to accomplish... and I'm really okay with that...

• Go to Europe with Matt - Not doing this in the next year and three months... 
• Become a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) - Yeah also probably not going to happen.
• Become organized enough to scrapbook - Do not want to scrapbook anymore. Will do photo books...

Easter Round Up!

So my main goal for this weekend is to get ready for EASTER! On Monday I hope to have lots of decorations to share with everyone!

Here is where I'm finding a lot of my inspiration from on blogs and of course Pinterest!

1.
I'm loving the great Easter Chalkboard Printables from Nest of Posies! This would look great in a painted picture frame on our mantle!

2. 
Each time I see this easy and beautiful Moss and Burlap wreath from The Scrap Shoppe I instantly start drooling. I love that this can be used not only for Easter but also for Spring. So Easy to do also!

3. 
I love this Easter bunny Garland from House by Hoff! The glitter paper and puffy tails are just adorable!

4, 
Love EVERYTHING about this Easter Mantel from I should be Mopping the Floor. It makes me wish that I didn't have a TV over our mantle!

5. 
You can tell that spring is in the air when you see little buds on the branches! This Easy and Frugal Easter Egg Tree from Craftiment seems so fun and fresh! I also like that it uses items from the Dollar Store!

6. 
Wouldn't you love to receive one of these yummy Chocolate Dipped Easter Peeps? These are from Love from the Oven!

7. 
Head over to Main by Holly to get your bunny template! It is what was used for the mantle in number 4!

8.
I'm not sure of the original source for this next centerpiece but I found it on Fashion Diva Design. I love that they layered an egg wreath, cake plate, Easter grass, and a bunny to create this easy and festive centerpiece.

9. 
Also, from Fashion Diva Design... I've had the desire to create a wooden "planter" box for a while now... maybe this would be a good weekend to tackle this project! It looks like the one below was made from pallets or reclaimed wood.

10. 
And Finally from The Shopping Mama... I thank you for your round up of basket ideas for a little one! So Excited to be celebrating Hunter's first Easter! You will have to head over to the original site to get all the sources.

With all of this great inspiration I think that Emma and I are going to have a busy weekend full of Easter DIY projects! Cannot wait to share on Monday!

DIY Burp Cloths

I'm here today to share with you one of my go-to Baby gifts! Homemade Burp cloths!

When preggers with Hunter I ran across this great MADE tutorial and instantly pinned it on Pinterest. Before Hunter was born I purchased a ton of fabric and cloth diapers to create my own burp cloths for Hunter.

One of the best tips that I have are to actually purchase a set of light flannel blankets (I like the Carter Sets)

These are typically about $12.00 for FOUR blankets and I like that they are all coordinating! It makes for a much more put together gift...

Now for some fun burp cloth making...

Get out your supplies...

Iron your fabrics

Get your sewing machine ready... I use the Brother PC-420PRW Project Runway Edition Sewing Machine that my parents got for me for Christmas two years ago. I LOVE my machine! It is so easy to use and believe me I am a sewing rookie!

Next, I fold over the fabric to make a flat/clean edge and iron down...

I sew that flattened edge on the center of the "cloth diaper", cut the rest of the fabric to form a strip down the middle, fold and iron to form a straight edge.

Sew down second edge and sew top and bottom to the cloth diaper. 

I continue your other coordinating fabrics to make other matching burp cloths... I like to make at least three. 

 

These always make fabulous gifts... I like to pair it with a diaper cake made out of Honest Diapers and some of Hunter's favorite things! (The burp cloths are in the box on the bottom!)

Easter Egg Dreaming

I'm so excited that Easter is fast approaching... even though I'm VERY behind on getting my decorations out!

One of my favorite things to do at Easter is to decorate eggs! I have so many wonderful memories decorating with Emma and I cannot wait for Hunter to get bigger so that he can also get in on the fun!

All of our eggs tend to look like this:

Via - KoolAid Eggs

 Typical plain eggs!

In a dream world however I would have the time to embrace my inner Martha and I would have gorgeous bowls of decorated eggs around my house like these:

1. Sugar and Charm  2. Alisa Burke  3. Spoon Fork Bacon  4. Urban Comfort  5. The Sweetest Occasion  6.  Martha Stewart   7. Martha Stewart

Hunter: 26 Weeks

Last Wednesday we were still in Colorado so no usual Chalkboard photo again... What a slacker I am...

But regardless it was a BUSY week for my Hunter!

At week 26 Hunter:

• Went in the pool for the first time
• Had his first visit to the ski slopes... didn't get to partake in any of the fun however... needs to at least be able to stand on his own first! 
• First time in the snow
• First time in an airplane... 

Here are a few photos of our firsts for the week...

 

Julie Special Burgers!

I'm here today to share my SUPER yummy Burger recipe! I have a few different burgers that I rotate between in the warmer months but  this one is my main go to! It is SOOOO yummy and easy. I also doing really use a recipe so this is 100% my own.

Burger:
- 1 package 90% ground beef
- 1/2 red onion finely chopped
- egg
- 1/4 c. chopped sun dried tomatoes
- 2 T Chopped parsley
- 3 cloves minced Garlic
- 2 T Balsamic Vinaigrette

Toppings:
- Brie Cheese
- Arugula 
- Caramelized Red Onions
     - 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
     - 1 T Olive Oil
     - 2 T Balsamic Vinaigrette



First, place all of the burger ingredients into a large mixing bowl...

Here comes the messy part... dig right in and mix up all of the ingredients with your hands.

Form the burger mixture into patties and grill... While grilling caramelize your red onions

Red Onions..

- In a non stick skillet add olive oil and heat on medium-high

- Add thinly sliced onions and saute until soft

- Add Balsamic Vinaigrette and cook for 2 additional minutes

- Remove from heat

 

After grilled place patties on a backing sheet and top with sliced brie cheese and Caramelized onions.

Broil in Oven until cheese is melted....

Add to bun and top with arugula

 

Enjoy with other sides of your choosing... my preference is a roasted Sweet Potato, Beet salad, and Salt and Pepper Chips!