A "HEALTHY" Island Inspired Smoothie

Phil and I just got back from a wonderful 5 day trip to the Cayman Islands {well, we only stayed on the Grand Cayman Island}. Being childless for 5 days on an all-expense paid vacation was relaxing to say the very least.

Being that I wasn't consuming any typical island drinks {read alcohol}, I had many yummy virgin pina coladas, virgin daiquiris and smoothies.

Their smoothies were mmmMMMgood...maybe that is because they made them with real ice cream.

Now that we are home, I want to keep the island vibe alive, but in order for me to also stay alive, I attempted to make healthy smoothies instead.

Here is my version of a healthy smoothie:
1 cup - Milk
6 oz. - yogurt
1 cup - ice
1 cup - strawberries
1 medium - banana
.5 cup - spinach
.5 cup - carrots

All of the ingredients

Looks a little strange, but tastes pretty good!

The whole thing makes 4 cups of smoothie and all 4 cups total only 370 calories. Not a bad middle of the day pick-me-up {plus I get my veggies in that I HATE eating}.

Here are some fun pictures from our lovely trip!

Our first night there was a gorgeous sunset...we were in paradise!

About to sit down for dinner on the beach...what a great view!
Breathtaking
We pretty much just lounged on the sand everyday...and we went snorkeling...the water was salty so it made you so buoyant we could snorkel for hours without a life vest!
The oasis {Westin} that was our resort
Dinner the last night at a Brazilian Steakhouse...OH YUM!
Soaking up the last rays before we headed home!

Give it up!

Today is Ash Wednesday. I have never observed Lent before. Growing up, our church never observed Lent as many Protestant Churches don't. But this year I have decided that I need to celebrate Lent as a way to grow my faith and strengthen my personal walk with Christ.

What have I given up...Facebook AND Pinterest. I have been thinking about this for several weeks and I believe this is going to be a HUGE challenge that is going to grow me in even bigger ways.

In addition to giving up social network sites, I am committed to adding prayer and quiet time daily. It is actually pathetic that I haven't been more consistently in the Word, and I want to be more disciplined in this area.

When I think about the amount of time I waste on both social networking sites it is ridiculous. Sure, I can justify how they keep me in touch with friends or encourage me to cook healthy meals for my family. But in reality they have been wastes of valuable time that I could be spending building true relationships with friends, nurturing my daughter and growing my personal faith.

It is going to be hard {both sites, sadly, have become almost second nature to look through as I am standing in line at the grocery store, pumping gas, when Emrie takes a nap, etc.}, but the intention of Lent is to give something up that is a sacrifice, just as Christ sacrificed His LIFE for us! In that light, stalking other people on the computer shouldn't be too large a sacrifice!

My prayer is that I will spend my new free time being more intentional with Emrie, doing things to build other's up, improving my attitude and knowledge of God, and finish a few projects around the house.

I couldn't be more excited to raise to this challenge and please keep me in your prayers as I begin this 40 day journey!

They're COMING!!!

I am not superstitious. I do not believe in luck. I do not believe in destiny or fate. I do not believe in chance or coincidence. I believe there is a plan and a purpose for all of us.

But it is fun when you open a fortune cookie and it tells you what you want to hear!

Like this morning I opened a fortune cookie {give me a break, I was on my way to the gym} and this is what it told me:



That was all I needed to get me PUMPED UP that four of my girlfriends from college are coming to my house TOMORROW and bringing their kids for a WEEK!!! Oh watch out Indiana, we are ready to have fun {even if we are moms now}!!!

Two Money Saving Tips Even I Can Do!

In no way do I claim to be good at saving money. I would say I can be thrifty and I tend to look for a good deal, but there are definitely times when I am too lazy to find a deal and I totally just pay full price {actually that is often}.

But since staying home, I have tried harder to be a better shopper. I have never been good about using coupons. They are hard for me because I am forgetful and even when I have tried to use them I find that since I typically buy the generic brand, the name brand stuff is still more expensive even with the coupon.

I no longer beat myself up about couponing. I still do use coupons, but my system is simple for me and doesn't cause me any real pain.

When the Sunday paper comes I leaf through the coupons.
I only clip the ones for products I would normally buy anyway.
I also hold on to the coupons the grocery store gives with my receipt.
I stick them in an envelope in my purse.
While I am at the store, or before I go in, I look over the coupons in there.
If there is anything I was going to buy or need anyway I write it on my shopping list and set those coupons aside.
At the checkout I hand her my stack {very small stack usually}

While it isn't a lot I typically save about $5 to $10 each time I grocery shop. Since I shop about twice a month that is still a savings of around $120-$240 a year. When I think of it that way, it makes it worth the little effort I put in.

Here is one way that I have found to save money and this makes me SO excited because it is SO easy.

I shop at Kroger due to convenience and they offer a point system for gas when you use your Kroger card. Each dollar is a point, every 100 points equals .10 cents off per gallon at certain gas stations.

Since I buy my groceries there anyway and I buy gas anyway, I might as well buy my gas at the station that accepts my Kroger points.

In the month of January I filled up 2 times. The first time I had .40 cents off per gallon and the second time I had .50 cents off per gallon. Since I have a 24 gallon tank that savings added up!

I saved $20 in gas for the month of January. The second time I only paid $2.82 per gallon. If I keep this up I will save $240 this year in gas. Tell me that isn't awesome!!!

Now I am about to make Phil start using my Kroger card too!

There are simple and easy ways to save money, you just have to look for them!!!

Sweating for Two

The worst thing happened to my wallet...I found Zulily.com They have the CUTEST stuff on there and everything is so reasonable/cheap.

Here is my latest purchase and although I look disgusting {give me a break I just got back from spin} the shirt is still too cute not to share!

The Day of Love

Valentine's Day!

Some people love it, some people hate it and depending on your relationship status, that feeling changes every year.

It is no secret that Phil and I don't usually give each other gifts on Christmas, birthdays or anniversaries. I am super sentimental {Phil figured that out REALLY fast when I had a small melt down on our 6 month wedding anniversary and he had a guys night instead and said he would take me to dinner the next night...I sentimentally wanted to have it THAT night...I'm a bit nutty}. Because I am sentimental we still celebrate holidays and events, we just tend to do something that requires spending time together and isn't very expensive.

However, for some reason, Valentine's day has been one of the holidays Phil tends to buy me something. I don't know why for sure, but I think it is because he knows that I won't expect anything and he likes surprises.

So I thought I would share our past Valentine's with you and then what I have planned for him today.

1st Valentine's: 2006 ~ Our first Valentine's together in college and it was one month before we got engaged.

When I came home from class there were these little pink notes all over my room with super thoughtful little gifts and corresponding Bible versus with them.

Some of the things were a new pair of cheap sunglasses (I had broken mine), a new battery for my watch that had died, a package of tanktops that I always wore to practice, a single rose, and my he filled up my gas tank (which was the most expensive gift since I had an old gas guzzling Jeep).






Then we spent time making cards and cookies that we passed out to our friends to share the love.

2nd Valentine's: 2007 ~ Our first year of marriage {we had been married 2 months}. Days before we had our first argument over money. I wasn't working yet and I didn't feel like I had any money of my own {that is because I didn't} so I felt like I could never buy anything for myself. I really wanted a pair of black boots and when I asked Phil if I could get them, he said, "do you really need them, can't you just wait." I was irrational and flipped out on him. The next day I found a note and $200 cash in my closet. His note said he had been looking for the perfect pair of boots to give me for Valentine's day, but I could go get the ones I wanted instead. Okay, so not the most romantic Valentine's {I ruined it obviously}, but I learned a valuable lesson and we went shopping together on Valentine's to find my perfect boots {which I would NOT have spent that much money on by the way}.

3rd Valentine's: 2008 ~ I have to admit, this might have been my very favorite Valentine's to date. Phil was living in Toledo and I was still living in Fort Wayne, so I would drive home to Toledo on the weekends and it KILLED me to have to leave Monday mornings. That weekend we had a movie marathon. We literally got take-out and watched about 8 movies that weekend and laughed and had the best time I think I have ever had just sitting at home.

4th Valentine's: 2009 ~ I hate to say it, but this might have been the most unmemorable year yet. All we did was go to dinner at Bar Louie, but we knew we were going on vacation to Cancun in a week, so I guess we didn't care that much about Valentine's Day.



5th Valentine's: 2010 ~ Flash back two years and this might sound familiar. I already knew we were going to one of my favorite restaurants for dinner, 'Blue Water Grill' for Valentine's dinner and I was SO excited. But Phil told me to run upstairs to our guest bedroom to put a movie away. I was TOTALLY unsuspecting, but when I opened the door there was a pair of UGGS on the bed that I had mentioned I wanted. I hadn't thought twice about it since I said something in December, but there they were. And we had a great night at dinner too!




6th Valentine's: 2011 ~ I knew we weren't going out to dinner, we had a 2 month old and going out with her in the ice did not sound very relaxing. In romantic fashion {not really} while I was nursing Emrie, Phil came in and handed me two boxes, each a watch one with a white band and one with a clear band. He said I could choose, keep both the watches or he would return them and get me the more expensive watch he had picked out. I went with the single watch and did not regret that he picked out this sweet Michael Kors watch. What a nice guy!




This year:

I have no idea if Phil is going to do anything for me this year. As a matter of fact, I don't really care. I told him not to do anything, I wanted to take care of everything this year. So here is what I sort-of did. It is still low key and knowing that my husband is the most frugal man alive {gross exaggeration} he will appreciate that I went cheap!

We started off the morning with this:



cost: $2.00

I am texting him things I love about him every hour on the hour all day. Additionally I am saying a prayer for him at the same time. Isn't that really what the day is about, showing people why we love them.
cost: free

For dinner I am making steaks, potatoes and salad {that is a fancy meal at my house}.
cost: free {thank you Tony for sending us the Omaha Steaks for Christmas}

Then for dessert I have chocolate covered strawberries. They would have been cheaper and easier to make, but I didn't feel like it today.
cost: $6.00

Also for dessert is this:



cost: $2.00

Then as the gift that keeps on giving all year I made this and it will hang in our bathroom:



cost: free
Here is the website to get your own free downloadable!
http://www.justmakestuff.com/ndg/2011/10/love-you-because.html

Grand Total: $10.00

You can show someone you love them and appreciate them without spending much money!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Super Proud Sister

Have you ever wanted to tell someone you are proud of them, but you let your own pride get in the way. I have...for several years...25 years in fact...and it has affected my relationship with someone I care deeply for...MY SISTER!!!

Torrie and I are two years apart to the month and I hate to admit it, but we haven't always gotten along {that was an understatement at times}. We get along much better now that we are a little older, and although she was my maid of honor in my wedding, we still aren't super close.

Now that I am about to have two girls in my house, I have been reflecting on the sister dynamic and I have to say I am sorry to my sister for not being the loving, supportive, protective sister I should have been. It is important for me to teach my girls to love each other, respect each other and treat each other with care...because sisters really are the built in best friend that God picked for you!!!

Although it has taken way too long, I believe it really is never too late to start. So here I go...

It is finally time for me to publicly say what I have felt all along, but was too egotistical to say...I AM PROUD OF MY SISTER TORRIE!!!

When we were in late elementary school Torrie made the A team for All-Stars in softball and I made the B team. Torrie hit back to back home runs that summer over a fence that was about 200 feet deep. The last time someone had done that was a man like 15 years before...Torrie was in 5th grade. I acted like it was no big deal in front of her because I was bummed I hadn't even gotten on base that tournament {I was lousy at softball}, but inside I was beaming and so proud of her, but I didn't say it.

In high school Torrie made varsity field hockey as a freshman {I had too, but now I was a junior and too cool for my little sister}. I was TICKED when we told her to carry the ball bucket and she said no and the coach made all of us get them {my freshman and sophomore years we had a standing tradition that the youngest carried all the equipment...It was like a right of passage. Then my junior year we got a new coach who wanted us to all carry our weight. That didn't set to well with most of us, but Torrie loved it}. Let's just say on more than one occasion we got into screaming matches before practice {Torrie wasn't the best at remembering her equipment, but I always had extras so she expected me to share} during practice {I always thought she was slacking off or doggin' it} and after practice {I drove us home in my sweet La Bomba}.

The thing was, I could yell at her and be so angry with her, but NO ONE else had better treat her like that.

Once, Torrie and I both scored goals in a game and the report in the newspaper the next day said, "Morgan is a workhorse and Torrie is just plain good!" I was so mad. Basically I had to work hard to be decent at sports and Torrie could just show up and it was so easy for her. But deep down, I was always so proud that she was my sister and boy was I glad she was on my team!

When Torrie was getting ready to go to college, my coach at Indiana said, "hey I was thinking of recruiting your sister." I told her I would quit before playing with her again. That was pretty harsh, but I didn't want to live in her shadow again.

Torrie's senior year of college she lead the country...the WHOLE COUNTRY...in goals scored. Phil and I went to watch her play in the NCAA qualifier at Michigan and I was walking our dog behind the bleachers when I heard some coaches talking about her. My ears perked up when I heard, "#24, isn't she the one leading the nation in goals and she plays for a MAC team. That is crazy, she has a wicked shot, I wouldn't be caught dead in front of her strike." I think my chest actually swelled out a little bit. I wanted to walk over and say, "yeah, that's my sister, no big deal!"

After Torrie graduated college she had this goal of trying out for the Olympic team and I thought it was a little far fetched, but didn't really think much of it. Then the week before she was supposed to try out she tore her ACL and MCL. When she said she was going to rehab and try out the next year I actually thought it was a bad idea. I thought she should move on, get a job, move out of mom and dad's...etc.

But she did try out...and she made the development squad...then they bumped her to the National Team...while I was happy for her {kind of} I still thought she needed a real job, what if this doesn't pan out.

Then she came to visit me last October and I saw something in her I had NEVER seen before. I saw commitment. This girl was on the strictest diet, she worked out and ran everyday while she was visiting. You might think, well duh, isn't that what a prospective Olympian does...but you don't know my sister.

Her senior year of high school she quit softball mid season {something that was NOT allowed in my home, but there was very good reason in which my parents supported her quiting}. She walked onto the track field that same day, picked up a shot put and in her tennis shoes threw a school record. She had no training, not even the right shoes. She went to state and placed 9th...in tennis shoes.

That is exactly why I was so shocked when my sister was SO committed to this Olympic thing. She had always been the best without hardly working at it at all. Now she was telling me how she is learning so much and the girls she was playing with were so much better than her and she was just eating up all that she was learning. She said she didn't even really care if I made it to the Olympics because she was getting so much better.

From that day on, I wanted her to make it. I think I wanted it even more than she did. I was so proud of the growth I saw in her and her dedication and passion. She was putting together everything that God had given her and maxing out her potential.

Even though I know I will be having a baby a month {hopefully a full month} before the Olympics begin in London...If Torrie makes it I will be there...in London...with 2 kids...Front and center...cheering on my little sister.





And even if she doesn't make it this year, I still want her and everyone else to know that I am proud of Torrie...Not just for her accomplishments on the field, but because of who she is as a Christian, friend, cook, woodworker, writer and sister. I am proud that my girls have her as a role model. And I am proud to say she is MY little sister!!!

Check out this article about her from the San Diego newspaper:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/feb/12/albini-may-be-home-ing-olympic-spot/

Good luck in Spain this month and know that your biggest fans are here in Indiana cheering you on!!!

p.s. if you want a good laugh, read her blog and get to know her better...
http://torriesscramble.blogspot.com/

Confession

I have a confession. I wanted a boy. I wanted a boy way more than I realized. In fact, I was convinced I was having a boy just because I wanted it and subconsciously didn't even realize it. I was disappointed when I opened the box {and Phil unintentionally played a mean trick and had 1 blue balloon at the bottom of the box because he said he at least was hoping she would play sports and get a scholarship...huh, why is that even a debate she is after all half Albini...JUST KIDDING!}.

It really wasn't until after I had handed Phil the mystery envelope after the doctor's appointment and we were both on our way that it truly hit me how badly I wanted a boy. I had agreed {wanted} to be surprised in front of our families because I truly thought I didn't care what we had. The overwhelming desire for a boy took me by surprise yesterday because it must have been lingering there, but I had ignored it.

When we were pregnant with Emrie, everyone KNEW I wanted a boy {I wasn't shy about telling people who asked what I wanted, and yes I cried when I found out it was a girl}.

Yesterday afternoon it hit me...the reason I wanted a boy so badly {besides the fact that I would love to watch him play football and be tall and get muddy and play trucks and superheroes and think I am the perfect woman and want to find a girl just like me to marry and little boy shoes are JUST the cutest things in the world and we have the perfect name for him!!!}...Besides all that, I know Phil wants a boy and I just wanted the pressure to be off!

After my initial disappointment, I thought I would start looking up girly stuff on the Internet {mostly Pinterest}. But that only helped a little and then we went to bed.

1:57 am I woke up and immediately started thinking about HER. Not him, HER...It's a HER, a SHE...not a he or him, a HER....hmmm...

How did I feel about that?

About four months after Emrie was born, I remember going through the drive-through at Wendy's and texting my friend Erin to tell her she was right...Little girls ARE the best and so much fun. I also told her that even though God didn't give me what I WANTED, He gave me what I NEEDED in a daughter!!!!

As I lay wide awake in the middle of the night, that thought came to me...God didn't give me what I wanted, He gave me what I needed. But then I started to think...wait this isn't even about ME, it's about HER. God didn't give us what we needed, He gave us who SHE IS SUPPOSED TO BE...who she was made to be!

Psalm 139:13-16 says,

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

Our little girl was planned and created by God before I even existed. He had plans for her before Phil and I ever met. He knows who she is, what she will do and how she will be before it even happens.

While I was thinking over this, I had an even bigger epiphany. Phil and I are her parents and we are given the task of raising her. While the journey will grow us and challenge us and is ultimately intended to grow us closer to Christ, we are building HER. Our goal in raising her is to lead her so that one day she will make the decision to follow Christ as well.

BUT...in the end, this isn't about us OR her...It is about HIM!!! It is about God! He is the creator...we are here to serve Him...we are designed to love Him.

It isn't about who we are...it is about WHO HE IS!!!

Yes, he gave us who we needed...she is who He designed...but HE is who we all are to focus on, the creator of life who deserves to be worshiped by us ALL, which really transcends gender!

It's A Girl!!!

Originally our ultrasound was scheduled for Thursday, but there was a very good possibility that Phil would have to go out of town for work that day so we rescheduled for 10:00 this morning.

At 9:45, as I was on my way to the doctor, I got a phone call from the doctor's office that the sonogram machine had broken and the technician would have it done by 11:30. So after holding my bladder for an hour, I started the whole drink water, hold your bladder process again. Mind you, Phil had rescheduled an appointment and was not sure if he should go back to work or try to work at Starbucks while we waited. THEN, at 11:00, they called to say that they would have to push us back again to 12:30. I was getting really nervous that Phil would have to go back to work and miss the whole thing because he couldn't delay any longer. So we ate lunch together and when we showed up at 12:30 and thankfully they were ready for us.

The ultrasound revealed a VERY active little bundle {kind of like Emrie} with all the standard pictures and measurements {the baby looked very healthy and measured right on track for the July 1st due date}.

146 beats per minute

The tech said "okay, I'm done". I was surprised because she didn't even have to 'check' for the sex. She gave us the DVD and CD of pictures and handed us the envelope that said what it was inside. I was a little tempted to open it, but I handed it to Phil, he took it and went to work.

I waited the 6 hours at home {and the grocery store} waiting for Phil to get home with the box of pink or blue balloons. To fill the time I made a couple of decorations for the evening {I was pretty excited to find out and had to fill my time somehow}.

Emrie and daddy with the box of mystery balloons!

Phil came home and we put my parents and Phil's sister on Skype. I opened the box and found PINK balloons!!! Here's to Emrie having a little sister! Ruffles and Lace here I come!!!!

Getting ready to open the box. What is inside????

PINK BALLOONS!!!

It's A GIRL!!!
Emrie is going to have a little sister!

Time to Play 'Guess That Baby'!

When we were pregnant with Emrie, Phil and I found out what we were having and kept it a secret until she was born {CRAZY}. I can't believe we were able to do it, but this time, I don't want to keep it a secret. I want to share with everyone what we are having but I want it to be fun {by the way we are telling the gender, but not the name until they are born}.

Now, we want everyone to join the fun and make your guesses. Since I don't know what we are having yet I will tell you a few things they say helps you to know what you are having {I don't know that I buy any of these wives tales, but it is fun anyway}.

First trimester sickness: Nauseous everyday (much worse than with Emrie), Brain splitting headaches
Cravings: Bread
Heartbeats per minute: 164 (7w4d), 170 (11w2d), 145 (15w3d){Emrie was 172 at 9w2d)
Chinese Calendar: 2 said girl, 1 said boy {3 said boy with Emrie}

Tomorrow morning we have our ultrasound and Phil will be finding out what we are having then {he doesn't want to be surprised in front of people and I don't blame him, he is really hoping for a boy}. Then tomorrow night we will have Phil's family over and Skype with my family where I will open a box with either pink or blue balloons in it. I am going to be surprised with all the family {I have to admit I could not have done that with Emrie since I wanted a boy so badly that I cried when we found out it was a girl. This time I see the joy in either, a girl would mean sisters plus so much pink and frills:) and a boy would mean one of each, so I want to be surprised with everyone else}.

I do have to say that while I don't have any real reason to think one way or another, since I already have a girl, I picture the baby as a boy, but again, for no particular reason. All that said:

MY OFFICIAL GUESS:BOY

What is your guess?

We will find out tomorrow night!!!!

Spring Wreath

It is a bit embarrassing to admit, but I just took down my Christmas wreath to put up my spring wreath. I skipped by the valentine's wreath this year {I don't have one and I didn't feel like making one}. So I made a REALLY easy, REALLY quick spring wreath that will last me through the summer if I want.

Average wreaths cost about $30-$40 to buy, mine only cost around $12 to make.

I bought a stick wreath at Hobby Lobby, a garland strand of yellow golden bell flowers and a letter V.

All I had to do was hot glue the garland of golden bells to the wreath, paint the letter yellow and glue it on. In minutes I have a lovely spring wreath!!!

Steal or Splurge: THE GREAT STROLLER DEBATE!

With our second baby on the way I have been thinking of the baby gear we are going to need for 2. We need to buy another crib because Emrie is not even CLOSE to being out of hers for another couple of years. We need another car seat since Emrie will be too big for her infant seat soon anyway. AND we will need a double stroller.

The double stroller has been a HOT debate at my house recently and I am trying to make a smart decision this time around.

With our first child, Phil and I had the motto, “we will buy it as we need it”. For the most part that has worked really well for us and saved us from buying stuff that we won’t really ever use. But for the big ticket items {strollers} when we need something I just run out and buy it without doing much research so I just buy the cheapest one to find out later, “bummer, I could have really used____ instead”. Or as I have found with our stroller situation, “oh, if I had actually thought about it I could have bought 1 stroller that has all these functions and wouldn’t have 3 instead.”

This time around I am starting early and trying to make a VERY educated decision about the double stroller we buy because {God willing} we would like to have at least 3 {I want 4} kids, so I would like to only make the stroller purchase once more and have it for all our kids.

Part of my concern is will I use the stroller often enough to warrant an expensive one. As it is with Emrie I probably only use the stroller about once a week, but I anticipate that with two I would be using it more often, but I am not sure {mothers of 2 or more kids, please chime in and give me your two cents on this}.

While I am not at ALL opposed to buying second hand or going for the bargain {I mean, we have a $100 crib that has worked JUST fine and a $20 umbrella stroller is what I use right now}, I really just want to make sure that I am getting everything that I need in a stroller, not just a good deal.

BUT I have to admit MY BIGGEST FEAR IS BUYING AN EXPENSIVE STROLLER AND NOT USING IT ENOUGH TO GET MY MONEY’S WORTH!

That is why I would like your advice in making a decision.

Okay, having said that, I have some ‘non-negotiable’ criteria that I want in the next stroller and some ‘nice-to-have-but-not-crucial’ criteria {again, pipe up moms who may see things that really aren’t that important or that are critical but I haven’t thought of}.

Non-Negotiable
-Front and rear seating as opposed to side-by-side {side-by-side are wide and make it more difficult to get in tight spots like doorways, and I KNOW Emrie would pick on the baby next to her}

-Stadium seating {The seat in the back is higher than the one in front so the kid in back can still see out, Emrie gets fussy if she can’t see stuff}

-Baby can be in the rear seat {this is my preference, I would rather have the baby closest to me while they are little and the toddler in front}

-Easy folding {1 button or trigger collapse, I know I won’t use it if it is a hassle to get open and closed}

Nice-to-have-but-not-crucial
-Car seat snap in {This is ALMOST on the non-negotiable list for me because even though it is only for the first 4-6 months, it is nice to not have to take the baby out of the car seat, just click in and go}

-Jogger capability

-Convertible from double to single {there will be times I will only have 1 kid with me I’m sure and if I am looking down the road there will be a time when I only have 1kid who needs a stroller any longer}

-The more compact the better {Easy maneuverability and I get really annoyed if I have to push around or fit bulky stuff in the back of the car}

Now, having said all that, here are the two strollers I have narrowed it down to:

Graco Quattro Tour and the Mountain Buggy +One

GRACO QUATTRO TOUR

MOUNTAIN BUGGY +ONE

MOUNTAIN BUGGY +ONE

In addition to the Non-negotiables, there are additional pro’s and con’s to each:

Graco
Pro’s
-CHEAP: $250
-Baby carseat can click in to either front OR rear seat
-Built in cup holders and snack trays for mom and babies

Con’s
-Long front to back
-Not a jogger
-Only a double stroller

Mountain Buggy
Pro’s
-Jogger
-Converts from single to double stroller
-Can click in a car seat but ONLY when it is a single stroller
-Even as a double stroller the frame is still the length of a single stroller

Con’s
-EXPENSIVE: $650 plus some for accessories {buy cup holders extra}
-Can’t click in a car seat while it is a double stroller
-No snack trays for kids {although we NEVER use the one on the single stroller we have now}
-Less room for the kid in back

I really do want to make a smart decision because I am looking at this as an investment. Please weigh in and give me your advice. Or if you have a different recommendation for a stroller I am ALL ears!!!