Checking in on my 'Diaper Pail' List

It was 4 months to D-day when I made the original 'Diaper-Pail List' and now we are at 2 months from D-day and here is how I am doing so far!

Diaper-Pale List:
1. Take Emrie to the Zoo 4 times {once each month}
We have already been an excessive amount of times, so I'm taking this off

2. Take Emrie to the Children's Museum 4 times {once each month}
We still haven't been once...we have been going to the zoo instead

3. Make BVG2 a baby quilt
Finally fixed the initials {you can see the blanket here}

4. Sew Emrie's 'Big Girl' bedding
The bedding is made and I love it! Plus I found an AMAZING deal on bedding for her next big bed.

5. Finish Emrie's 'Big Girl' room
I would consider it done {although I am not sure I ever fully consider anything done} and I LOVE it!!! Look for the big reveal on Friday!!! 

6. Make 4 matching outfits for Emrie and BVG2 {eight total, one set each month}
This month was pillowcase dresses {look for these on Thursday} 

7. Teach Emrie all the parts of the face
She had eye and now she has nose and mouth as well although they could use some firming

8. Go on a hike
Not even close

9. Read the Hunger Games series
Done {but the second two weren't nearly as good as the first!}

10. Plan Phil's high school reunion {this is kind of a big one}
It is in the works, we have a date and an idea of what we want to do, now it is just a matter of nailing everything down, but this should be wrapped up by this week.

11. Shoot at a shooting range {just because I have really wanted to}
I bought a package for Phil and I for a 1/2 hour of shooting time on Living Social...now we just need to use it!

12. Go on 4 Picnics {once each month}
April-Not so much

13. Make all three of us girls matching headbands for the 4th of July {assuming she gets here by then}
Still No

14. Finish 2011 and start 2012 scrapbooks
2011 is done and finished!!! 2012 is in the works!!!

15. Plan a really nice date night with Phil
I'm slacking!


16. ENJOY THE SMALL THINGS!!!
SOAKING IN EVERY MINUTE I HAVE WITH EMRIE!!!

Only 62 days until BVG2's big arrival!!!

Learning Curve of a Homemaker

There is a learning curve with any new job.  When I first started teaching I had NO idea what I was doing but it became easier as I gained confidence and experience.  Same goes for when I became an assistant principal {although that took me a much longer time before I felt competent again} and once again the curve started over when I became a 'working mom' for the first time while I was consulting for 9 months.

Then I decided to be a stay-at-home-mom full time.  This is my new job {best and most rewarding job to date, minus the pay of course}.  But it wasn't until this month that I realized that even this job has had a pretty steep learning curve.

I suppose I anticipated that I would wake up the first day I was at home and I would just know what to do.  Funny enough, it has taken me about six months {which is right on par with all my previous jobs} to really start picking up steam at my new position.

What could be so hard about staying home that would even need to be learned?  Honestly, for me, it has been a mentality shift, a mindset change and ironing out the details with my co-worker {husband} that have been a process. 

In the past, Phil has always taken care of the details of our lives {dealing with insurance issues, scheduling maintenance for the house, paying bills...etc.}.  But now all those responsibilities have been shifted to me, and sadly I felt inept, almost incompetent.

Until this month!  Finally, a switch has been flipped and a light bulb has come on.  Maybe I just needed my hand held for a little while {thank you dear husband}, maybe I needed a few positive experiences under my belt to give me confidence {I took care of getting the sprinkler intake valve fixed, scheduling the carpet cleaner and lawn maintenance without asking Phil. That is a big step for me}, or maybe I just needed a little time to grasp the concept that this is my role indefinitely {no I am not going back to work anytime soon, if ever, and being a homemaker is still a valuable job. I think that reality is finally sinking in}.  Whatever it was I FINALLY feel comfortable in my role as the VP of the Van Gelder Household!

When you find your niche, you get in your groove, you hit your stride, you find your sweet spot, however you want to put it...it just feels right...it feels GREAT!!!

And "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men" - Colossians 3:23.

He can use you wherever you are, with whatever you're doing despite where you are on your learning curve!

Sew Your Own Ruffle Apron

I thought I posted this yesterday, but realized for some reason it didn't upload.  So here it is a day late!

Last weekend I had the privilege of attending my good friend Lindsay Wymer's bridal shower.  The soon-to-be Mrs. Omler was just radiant as we celebrated her upcoming nuptials!

I wanted to give her a little something homemade {she is one of those people who truly appreciates thoughtful, gifts from the heart}, and she is fairly domestic, so I figured an apron {along with some truly useful cooking supplies} would we appropriate.

My inspiration for the ruffle apron came from Pier 1's aprons and my recent obsession with ruffles.

Supplies:
4 coordinating fabrics {1 yard for the main piece or 2 yards if you wish to double side it as I did, 1/4 yard for each of the three ruffles}
Sewing Machine
Pins
Fabric scissors
{Optional}
Serger
Apron pattern

Directions:

Start with your coordinating fabrics

Pin your pattern to the fabric and cut out the material.  If you don't wish to use a pattern {mine was $.50 at Walmart, but it wasn't a very accurate size, so I ended up altering it anyway} you can use an existing apron as an outline or just take measurements of yourself and decide how to cut it out.

{Optional}

I cut out a second apron from another fabric to use as a backing and double up the apron just to make it heavier {you don't want grease splattering through}. Then I serged them together.

NOTE: I used a serger for just about everything on this apron, but if you don't have a serger, hemming everything with a regular straight stitch or a zig-zag stitch on a sewing machine will work just fine as well.

Cut out and sew on the strings and neck loop.  To make each of those you must cut long strips of fabric to the desired length and double up the width.  Then with right-sides in, stitch along the length and turn it right-side out again.

You could stop here and have a simple, but cute apron...OR you could go on to adding the ruffles for a truly custom look!

Cut each of the coordinating fabric into a long strip {My top ruffle was 6" and the bottom 2 were 8", the length is generally double the width of the apron, but since the fabric isn't that wide, I just went from one side to the other as wide as I could}.

Here, I serged my ruffle bottoms with a rolled stitch and the tops with a regular 4 thread stitch, but you could simply hem them on both top and bottom.

Using a long stitch on your sewing machine, sew a straight line at the top of all three ruffles.  Pull the thread to make the fabric ruffle at the top to the same width as the apron.

Pin the ruffles on the apron, starting with the bottom one and sew onto the apron.

With the top ruffle, sew it upside down, so when you flip the ruffle back down you won't see the seam.

Finish the apron by either serging the sides in a rolled stitch like I did, or hemming the sides with a sewing machine.

Now you have an adorable, girly, frilly, homemade, heartfelt apron. 

Doesn't baking seem so much more fun with a cute apron!!!

What I Wore~Maternity Edition: Cardigans

One of my favorite pregnancy {anytime} staples is a cardigan. It can dress up a pair of jean quickly and is perfect for that 'in-between' weather that Indiana is known for, especially in April.

White V-Neck T's are also PERFECT for just about anything; casual, or under something dressier, or just to work-out or sleep in. I LOVE Hanes Tagless V-Necks.

A sturdy pair of dark wash maternity jeans are a must have. If you invest in a nice pair {mine aren't even that nice, but they fit well} you will NEVER regret that purchase as you will wear them ALL THE TIME!

And of course, I just love a scarf and a simple pair of flats.

Keep it casual with a v-neck and jeans with flip flops

Dress it up a little with a cardigan
Or throw on a scarf and you're good to go

Spring Salad with Poppyseed Dressing

Panera Bread makes a WONDERFUL spring salad, for years I have used their salad as inspiration and made my own version {mostly because Phil doesn't like some of the stuff they put in theirs}. I also have a poppyseed dressing recipe that is wonderful and complements spring salad nicely {poppyseed dressing recipe is from all-recipes.com}.

Poppyseed Dressing
Ingredients:
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground dry mustard
1 teaspoon grated onion
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Directions:
In a blender or food processor, combine sugar, vinegar, salt, mustard and onion and process for 20 seconds. With blender or food processor on high, gradually add oil in a slow, steady stream. Stir in poppy seeds.



Spring Salad
Ingredients:
50/50 spring mix and spinich lettice
blue cheese crumbles
green onion
strawberries
honey roasted almonds {you can get the recipe for these from last week's post}
poppyseed dressin

{Optional}
manderine oranges
blue berries
dried cranberries or craisins
grilled chicken

Spring is here...SO ENJOY!!!

My Little Monster Phase

Parenting is HARD!!!! I don't have to tell most of you this, you know exactly what I am talking about.

Each phase has its trials, and the phase we are in right now has left me down-right frustrated.  I am at a parenting loss and I feel like our 16 month old has taken all my common sense and flushed it down the toilet {along with the toothpaste cap and the cardboard toilet paper roll}.

Newborns are a challenge because they cry and you have NO IDEA WHY {and then you realize, there really isn't a reason sometimes}.  They are up at random hours of the night to eat and poop and cry and you are exhausted and want to throw something across the room {hopefully not them}.  But you survive because you are still in the honeymoon phase.  Plus you adopt a motto {our motto was, 'SHE WILL NEVER REMEMBER' and my girlfrien Jen's motto is, 'EVEN STUPID PEOPLE FIGURE THIS OUT' hahaha} and just muscle through it.  And just when you are beginning to tolerate this phase...

They learn to sit up and sort of get around!  But that leaves them frustrated because they aren't fully independent yet, so they want you to play with them NON-STOP!  This leaves you exhausted and praying for nap time to hurry up and arrive.  But you get through it by inventing fun little games you can both play and eventually you figure out how to get them to play by themselves {even if it is just for a little while}.  Just when you are beginning to get use to this phase...

They start teething! If they had been sleeping through the night, they are back up every couple of hours again.  Kind of like the newborn phase, you are exhausted and want to throw something across the room. But you get through it armed with baby Motrin, teething rings, and cold washcloths.  Just when the teeth are broken through and you are clearing out of this phase...

They become mobile! Locks must go on all cabinet doors, decorations must be placed on high shelves, pads must go on corners and (if you are smart, unlike me) baby gates go on stairs.  This leaves them frustrated because they want to be independent, but you took all their fun away.  But you get through it by giving them one bucket of toys and 2 drawers in the kitchen that they can play with so they are content again.  Just when it is becoming bearable to be in this phase...

They become CLINGY! Being just your shadow isn't good enough, they want to be a permanent fixture on your body!  Standing next to you while you pee isn't enough, they want to sit on your lap.  Holding your leg while you cook isn't close enough, they want to me on your hip.  AND THEY WHINE!!!  But you get through it by either learning to do everything one handed with them affixed to your body, or getting some really good distractions going (like Dora or handing her chips to eat).  And just when you are beginning to master this phase...

THEY TURN INTO A TODDLER!!! A 16 MONTH OLD, OPINIONATED, HEADSTRONG, MONSTER!!! And it leaves you completely flustered, baffled, perplexed and questioning every ability you have ever had. 

My monster throws temper tantrums when she doesn't get her way.  Her favorite word has become NO. 

When I ask for the hairbrush so we could clean up and go downstairs she screams "NO", pulls away and slams the cabinet shut.  When I take her shoes off when we are in the house, she screams "NO" and lunges for the shoes. When I take my phone away from her in the doctor's office she kicks and screams while strapped in her stroller.  When I take her book before nap time she BIT my thigh {this has only happened once over a week ago, but it broke skin and left me NONE too happy}.  When I give her hot dogs and strawberries for lunch {I am such a mean mom huh...it's not like it's tuna salad}, she REFUSES to eat them and shoves them off her tray {she literally went all day without eating because she refused to eat what I was giving her}.  When I spanked her hand after giving her warnings about not turning off the DVD player she laughed and did it again.  Then, when I spanked her thigh she cried but looked at me and did it again!

This phase is going to have a lot of tears {on both of our parts}, a lot of pain {mostly for her, but I'm not completely heartless, it hurts me to discipline her too}, and a lot of testing {she tests her boundaries and I test just about every discipline method I can think of}.  But in the end I am going to win...I am going to break her...she is going to be obedient, and loving and respectful...she is, she just doesn't know it yet...because I said so {hahaha} and because I love her and I want what's best for her! {I wonder where she gets her stubbornness from?}

And just like all the other phases, I know with a TON of prayer and God's grace, we will both make it through...just in time to

INTRODUCE A NEW BABY {AHHHHH}!!!

Wife, Mom, ACTRESS?

There are some interesting things on my resume, but actress is one I never anticipated making the list...Until NOW!

Yes, I am now a bona fide {sort-of} actress....HAHAHAHA!!!

I know what you are thinking, "what is she talking about", but for the last two days I have been filming a commercial in Evansville, Indiana for Deaconess Woman's Hospital.

How did this come about you ask?  Well, about a month ago, my friend, Shelby, texted me and asked if I would be interested in being a pregnant model.  A sister company of hers is a talent agency and was looking for a pregnant model.  I laughed but thought, "hey, maybe I can at least get some maternity pictures out of it." 

After sending a few pictures of my pregnant belly to the talent agent, I didn't hear anything for a few weeks. 

Last week I got a phone call from Helen Wells {the talent agency} asking if I was still interested and if I could send an updated belly picture.  The next day she called me back and said, "by the way, what kind of acting experience do you have?"  NONE...that is how much...NONE!!!

Naturally, I said, "why do I need acting experience, I thought this was a photo shoot?"

Her response was, "oh...no, it's a commercial.  I am sending over the script, can you read it and come in tomorrow to do a quick shoot so I can send it to the client?"

Now here is my acting experience....I was in a commercial for Imagine Schools, but that was just me in my classroom and an interview responding to pointed questions.  I told her I used to sing the National Anthem at sporting events {just my field hockey games} in college.  She said that was good enough, that she could work with that....WHAT!!!

Well, I must have faked it well enough on the 3 minutes of tape she sent to the client, because they still decided to use me...

And that is how it came to be that for the past two days I have been the "talent" {or so they keep calling me, none of them know I have never acted before, so we will just keep that our little secret} on this commercial.

Day 1:

-Show up for hair and make-up {fun, Lori the make-up artist was a blast}
-They go through all the clothes I brought and decided to use what they had anyway.
-Get into wardrobe

{I thought I would be SO nervous, but everyone there was SO nice and normal that we moved into filming without so much as a deep breath and I was having fun and in character before I even knew what was happening}

Scene 1~ I am at a board meeting with three other professionals {all of whom are real actors} and as we are looking over business numbers, I begin to feel slight pain in my stomach.

CUT- 15 takes from 2 different angles later we were done...WOW, that was fast and painless...and I don't think they even noticed that I had never done this before.

-Go back to hair and make-up
-Debate over the next wardrobe change
-Decide on a blue nightgown {yes ladies, a BLUE GRANNY NIGHTGOWN}

Scene 2~ I walk into the bathroom in the middle of the night with pains in my stomach still.  I lean over the sink and look in the mirror in pain.

CUT- 15 takes from 4 different angles and we are done...WOW {the director said my discomfort was VERY convincing...he has obviously never been pregnant before, it is never too much of a stretch to fake it}

-Back to hair and make-up
-Hang out for a while and wait for my t.v. husband to show up
-Hang out with him and Lori for a while and wait until the camera crew is ready for us in the next scene

Scene 3~ I sit on the edge of our bed and turn the light on.  Still in pain. Shake the husband awake and tell him I still don't feel well.  We discuss where we can go in the middle of the night and agree to go to the new hospital.

CUT-15 takes from 3 different angles and it's over...WOW...It wasn't even awkward being in bed and waking up my t.v. husband!

Here I am getting my ring touched up during the "bedroom" scene...Nice nightgown huh!

-Back to hair and make-up

-Wardrobe change {well they just put a robe on me and made me look FRESH}

Scene 4~ Breakfast scene for the day after we come back from the middle-of-the-night hospital trip.  I get to sit at the breakfast bar while my "husband" brings me a muffin and fruit and we are so relieved and happy that the hospital made us feel better. 

CUT- About 20 takes later {we either laughed too much or I kept saying, "that was really great" which it wasn't and I was supposed to be saying how great the nurses were....it was the end of the day, and I'm not an actress, give me a break...and he was worse than me, laughing and what-not} it's a WRAP FOR THE DAY...WOW...That was fast and easy and unexpectedly FUN!!!

Day 2:

-Show up at the hospital

-Get hair and make-up done

-Get into my hospital gown and hop on the ultrasound bed

BEST PART OF THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE!!! I got an ultrasound for 45 minutes!!!!  We could see our baby girl in 3D and 4D and got a whole bunch of awesome pictures for free!!!!

Scene 5~ Still a little distressed {which was hard because the ultrasound tech was so nice and so excited that the baby was looking so cute, so it was hard for all of us to act concerned} and getting an ultrasound to check on the baby.

CUT- 30 takes 6 angles and a whole lot of ultrasound pictures later we are done....WOW...THAT WAS AWESOME!!!

Here I am getting the ultrasound

Actually having a lot of fun on Day 2 at the hospital!

Scene 6~ Stay in the bed, but now I am hooked up to a fetal monitor.  This nurse was really convincing.  We had a very serious conversation about heart rates way longer than either of us cared to, but we got done in about 10 takes!

CUT-10 takes later, done...WOW...so fast!

Here I am hooked up to the fetal heart rate monitor.

Scene 7~ Now a doctor is looking over the heart rate with me {she kept laughing and asking me how I could be so serious and that being an actress must be so hard she didn't know how I did it...HAHAHA}

CUT-20 takes {she was laughing a lot} we're done...WOW...so easy

-Eat lunch

-Hang out at Starbucks for 2 hours while I wait for my last two scenes

-Back in for hair and make-up

-Get my hospital gown back on

Scene 8~ I have just checked in to triage and the nurse is taking my blood pressure.  I am nervous since I have just arrived in the middle of the night and am having pain. 

CUT-20 takes {she was WAY too happy at first so they had to coach her into character}. 

All of the nurses were so super sweet and bubbly at this hospital that I would totally go there if I lived in Evansville, but for the sake of shooting the commercial it was a little hard because they were all too happy for the script haha. 

Blood pressure nurse, Debbie, takes the cake though.  She was so sweet.  When I was trying to describe to her why I came in {for the commercial} I said I was experiencing pain in my side and I was under duress.  She asked me how long I had been feeling the pain so I said that morning {in the script} and she thought I was being serious so she got concerned and said, "oh my gosh, do we need to take you to triage right now!"  She takes her job very seriously and I felt I was in good hands!

-Back to hair and make-up

-Wardrobe change into yoga pants and zip-hoodie to 'arrive' at the hospital in the middle of the night.

LAST SCENE FOR THE DAY!!!!

Scene 9~ 'Husband' walks me into the hospital, nurse greets us and puts me in a wheelchair and off they wheel me down the hall.

CUT-20 takes {the background nurse was struggling a little bit...she kept looking at the camera and smiling} and...

THAT'S A WRAP!!!!!

It was a great experience, something to check off my bucket list {even though it was never on it} and a fun little memory.  The people I worked with were so kind and friendly and now I can't wait to see how convincing the commercial turns out!  Good luck to the editors:)

Sew Your Own Infinity Scarf

I have a slight obsession with scarves. I LOVE them. You can wear them for any occasion and they can surprisingly both dress up, or dress down an outfit. But best of all, they are REALLY easy to make {and typically cheaper than buying}.

Surprisingly, even though I love scarves, I didn't have any infinity scarves, so I decided to make one. It saved me about %50 of the cost to buy one {the cheap ones were about $15 and I was able to make 2 for $12).

Supplies:
2 yards of fabric {I used crepe type fabric, but you can use anything especially jersey}
Sewing machine
Pins
Fabric scissors

Directions:

Start with the fabric folded in half length wise. I measured my length to be 70" long, but I might recommend making it slightly shorter, about 66". Then cut it along the fold so you have two equally long pieces of fabric. {This is going to make 2 scarves, so each long piece of fabric will be one scarf}

Using just one piece of fabric, fold it again length wise with right sides in and sew it together along the length to make a long tube.

Turn it right side out and take one end of the tube, turn the end in and pin it.

Stick the other end of the tube inside the pinned end and re-pin the end shut, making sure that both sides are lined up.

Sew the tucked end shut {I sewed two straight lines, just to make sure I caught all the edges}

And there you have a complete circle of fabric for your infinity scarf! {If you use the 70" like I did, it will be plenty long enough to double up, which was my intention, and add fullness}

{Sorry, I didn't take my own picture of the finished product, but it looks like this}

What I Wore~ Maternity Edition: Rainy Day

The forecast said there was a chance of rain today, so I dressed accordingly. The rain never came, but here is my rainy day outfit anyway!

Nothing is actually maternity and everything is pretty old except my rainboots.

Since it was supposed to rain, I didn't want to spend time blow drying my hair, so I went with a more 'weatherproof' option. My hair is stick straight so I just twisted lots of little strands into knots and bobby pinned them at the back. If you have naturally curly hair, this would be so much easier, but it still only takes about 10 minutes.

p.s. I hate the rain, but it would be a little more fun to stomp around in with these fun boots!!! Enjoy the April showers:)

Honey Roasted Almonds

There are so many things you can do with Honey Roasted Almonds besides just eat them by the handful {which I confess I do}. They go great on ice cream sundaes, sliced on glazed chicken, or in spring salads.

This recipe came from cooks.com

Ingredients:
2 c. whole almonds, skins on
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. honey
2 tbsp. water
2 tsp. almond or vegetable oil

Directions:
Spread the almonds in a single layer in a shallow ungreased baking pan and place in a cold oven. Bake at 350 degrees, stirring occasionally, until the internal color of nuts is tan (12 to 15 minutes). Remove from oven and set aside.
Thoroughly mix the sugar and salt. Stir together the honey, water and oil in a medium size pan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir in the roasted almonds and continue to cook and stir until all the liquid has been absorbed by the nuts (about 5 minutes). Immediately transfer to a medium bowl and sprinkle sugar mixture over all and toss. Spread on wax paper and cool.

Raw Almonds

Baking them in the oven
Cooking them in the honey mix on the stove
Sugar them in a bowl

Spread them on wax paper to cool {and nibble some along the way}

What's a Superhero Without a Sidekick?

MOMS, when was the last time....

You started anything without being interrupted by sounds coming from the monitor?

You peed in peace?

You did the dishes without someone climbing in the way?

You cooked without all the Tupperware covering your kitchen floor?

You got out of the shower and your closet hadn't been rearranged?

You blow dried your hair without all the contents under your sink being emptied?

You brushed your teeth without your mini-me mimicking you?

You watched a show that wasn't animated?


Then again, being on your own is oveerrated. What superhero managed to make it through anything without their sidekick shadow, right?