What I'm Bringing To The Hospital (Pinterest Challenge)*

Welcome to the Pinterest Challenge: Week Six! If you are new to this challenge [as I'm sure most people are!] then feel free to go here to check out the rules & all pertinent information.

One of the things that I have patrolled for through Pinterest were ideas on what the heck I would need at the hospital when the time came to deliver this babe growing inside me. I am a CHRONIC over-packer [ask my husband. It is comical the amount of crap I pack when we go ANYWHERE] and even though we are going to be in the hospital for two or three days, I am seriously fighting the urge to pack my entire closet. Or at least every single comfortable tshirt and pair of yoga pants I own, you know, JUST IN CASE.

Because that's how I roll. A girl has GOT to have options, people.

I was happy to find many, many blog posts through Pinterest of other women categorizing & listing out what they were planning on bringing to the hospital on the big day. Some even took it a step further & went back to update their list, letting readers know what they brought vs what was actually used. It was a great starting point for me to sort of figure out what the common themes were, what unique things people brought that they couldn't live with out, and what they brought that was totally useless.

Check out some of these ladies & their suggestions:

E Tells Tales: What's In My Hospital Bag
Simply Being Mommy: What to Pack In Your Hospital Bag
What to Expect: What to Pack for the Hospital
Happily A Law Mama: What to Pack In Your Hospital Bag

These are all great lists, and there are many, many more out there. All you have to do is google them. But lists like these, as well advice from some close friends, gave me some good ideas about what is definitely necessary, what to do without, and some extra's that are totally up to the individual.

With that said, it truly is amazing that you can find ANYTHING on Pinterest. I will often go there before I go elsewhere to do a quick search & see what I can find. My love for Pinterest is endless. So here are my items that are currently packed [or will be packed once I purchase them in the coming week] in the bag.

ITEMS FOR ME
Two Nightgowns: I'm not particularly a fan of hospital gowns, plus the whole back side being wide open every time you get up to go to the bathroom. I figure these will be easy & comfortable.
Cardigan: It's nothing fancy. I bought it in the sleeper section at Target. It's soft, comfortable, and will keep me a little warm when we're just hanging out.
Slippers/Warm Socks: Um, because my feet get cold really easy!
Towel/Wash Cloth: I'm not really sure what the hospital towels will be like. Figured one of my own towels will be nice to have.
Flip Flops: For the shower or walking around the hospital.
Toiletries: This includes shampoo/conditioner, face moisturizer, toothbrush/toothpaste, chapstick, hair ties and some light makeup. Call me vain, but having a little bit of make-up on [we're talking bronzer & mascara!] makes me feel better about myself. I'm expecting lots of photos being taken, so I will greatly appreciate having these items. And as my friend Jenny said, how long does it really take to throw that stuff on?? :)
My Own Pillows: This was one of the BIGGEST suggestions people had. We were also told during our L&D tour that pillows are scarce, so that we should bring our own. Plus, I really like my pillows. I will definitely sleep better with them.
Underwear [2-3 Pairs]: I've heard that this can be a hit or miss. Some people love the mesh panties the hospital provides, others don't. If I don't mind the mesh ones, I'll rock those! No sense in ruining my own. But if I don't, then I have back-ups.
Nursing Bra/Tank: I have yet to buy these. But it's on my ASAP list. These will be needed for obvious reasons!
Music: We are big music people, me especially, so having a small docking station and my iPod is a must. Plain and simple.
Pads: Because who knows if the hospital will provide these. I am going to assume yes, but having a couple on hand won't hurt. 
Camera: I'm a photographer. This one is definitely a necessity!!!
Phone & Chargers: For obvious reasons! My family & friends would kill me if my cell phone died the first day we were there!
Necessary Documents: This includes a copy of my birth plan, our form signed by the nurse stating that we have watched the required epidural video [I'm opting for no epidural, but things change!] and the paperwork to start the process for the birth certificate.

ITEMS FOR DAD
Change of Clothes: He's going to be there for a couple of days with me. He might as well bring his sweats and a couple of t-shirts so that he's not wearing the same thing for two or three days!
Snacks: We were told that while my meals are paid for by the hospital/insurance, his are not. We have already had friends who have offered to bring meals, but having some snacks in between will be great for him [and me, too!] when we don't want to pay for food at the cafeteria.
Reading Materials: For any down time he may have.
Toiletries: The basics for him as well, including body wash & toothbrush/toothpaste.
Pillows/Blanket: Since he will likely be sleeping on a chair or couch, he might need these. 

ITEMS FOR BABY
Boppy Pillow: I know this will come in handy during attempted breast feeding times!
Blanket: I KNOW that the hospital will provide receiving blankets, but we have received so many amazing homemade blankets from friends that it just seems right to bring one with us.
Going Home Outfit: We have packed two, in two different sizes [just in case!], as well as mittens, socks and a hat. All things to keep baby warm!
Car Seat: Given [and already installed!]

So that's it! It seems like a lot, but everything listed above [aside from the nursing bras/tanks that I have not yet bought] fit in the two bags in the photo. The red one is mine, the black one is M's with PLENTY of room to spare in his. A couple of the things, like the pillows & the Boppy, will be carried. Everything is already packed & ready to go! If you've packed a hospital bag, what did you include? Anything not on this list that you recommend?

What have you guys done this week?!

Pinterest Challenge: Week Five

Welcome to the Pinterest Challenge: Week Five! If you are new to this challenge [as I'm sure most people are!] then feel free to go here to check out the rules & all pertinent information. 

So, I am late again. I apologize! My days are getting away from me, and I'm failing big time on the blogging aspect! I really need to be better about scheduling posts. HOWEVER, better late than never. :) I hope you all had a wonderful week & made lots of great things. I am loving seeing everyone's goodies!

Prior to what I previously thought, I actually did have time to make something this week :) Yay me! My goodies come from Skinny Taste, which is probably my new favorite food recipe website. So many easy, delicious & HEALTHY recipes!

This week M & I tackled some Turkey Stuffed Peppers. They were, all in all, easy to make and pretty good. I will say that if I make them again, I will definitely up the seasoning. They weren't bland by any stretch of the imagination, but M & I both like a lot of kick & flavor to our foods, so I will most likely be experimenting with seasoning flavor the next go around [and there definitely will be a next go around!]

Photo from SkinnyTaste.com :)

Turkey Stuffed Peppers
Ingredients:

• 1 lb lean chopped turkey meat
• 1 garlic, minced
• 1/4 onion, minced
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• salt to taste
• 3 large sweet red bell peppers, washed
• 1 cup fat free chicken broth
• 1/4 cup tomato sauce
• 1 1/2 cups cooked rice
• Olive oil spray
• 1/4 cup reduced fat shredded cheese

Heat oven to 400°. Spray a little olive oil spray in a medium size saute pan and heat on a medium flame. Add onion, garlic and cilantro to the pan. Saute about 2 minutes and add ground turkey. Season with salt and garlic powder, and cumin and brown meat for several minutes until meat is completely cooked through. Add 1/4 cup of tomato sauce and 1/2 cup of chicken broth, mix well and simmer on low for about 5 minutes. Combine cooked rice and meat together.

Cut the bell peppers in half lengthwise, and remove all seeds. Place in a baking dish. Spoon the meat mixture into each pepper half and fill it with as much as you can. Place all stuffed pepper halves on the baking dish and pour the remainder of the chicken broth on the bottom of the pan. Cover tight with aluminum foil and bake for about 35 minutes. Top with shredded cheddar cheese and enjoy. 

YUM! Seriously good, guys. I definitely recommend this recipe. Again, play with the seasoning, as there are a lot of options for this. But it was definitely good. We only ate one each, which left four for leftovers & they heat up great in the microwave. Two minutes each and they were good to go!

What have you done this week?

Pinterest Challenge: Week Four*

Welcome to the Pinterest Challenge: Week Four! If you are new to this challenge [as I'm sure most people are!] then feel free to go here to check out the rules & all pertinent information. 

Welcome to week four everyone! HOORAY! I am happy to see a few regular posters already and am hoping that this will gain some speed in the coming months. I am a huge failure and due to an extreme lack of time/being completely exhausted/dealing with some pregnancy issues I did not get anything on my Pinterest list accomplished this week. So, I bring you this funny instead:

Which, coincidentally, I found on Pinterest. So I guess that kind of counts? And it's funny, because it's true. Next week may also be a challenge as we are heading to Savannah, GA for the weekend, but I will do my best. I have a couple of projects that I will start working on and recipes to be cooked [although I really am trying to get away from the recipes! They are just so dang easy to go to when you love cooking!].

In other FABULOUS news, WE HAVE A BUTTON!

A shiny, kind of pretty button that you can now share on your blog to help spread the word about this wonderful link party. The more the merrier! So add it to your posts, or put it permanently on your blog to help drive traffic during the non-pinterest challenge days. Either way, I hope y'all use it. [You will see it right over there to the right ... a little lower ... yup. Right there. Code and all!]

So have at it, folks. What did you do this week? Did you branch out and try something new? Or did you stick to what you know? Link up, peeps!

Pinterest Challenge: Week Three*

Welcome to the Pinterest Challenge: Week Three! If you are new to this challenge [as I'm sure most people are!] then feel free to go here to check out the rules & all pertinent information. 

I am always looking for meals for dinner time that are quick and easy. I love to cook, but I also work full time, so after being at the office all day the last thing I want to do when I come home is spend an hour or more in the kitchen. If I can cook a meal in 30 minutes or less, then I am totally happy!

I found this one earlier in the week and since I had all the ingredients at home already, it was the perfect match for dinner last night. It was REALLY good, and incredibly easy. I will say that I must have gotten the hottest jalapeno at the grocery store, because holy crap ... the one pepper, despite seeds and veins, made this dish incredibly spicy. Even for M. But it was still good, and I will just use half (or a much smaller) pepper next time.

Noodle over Stir-Fried Shrimp & Cilantro
Ingredients:
Kosher salt
6 oz. 1/4-inch-wide dried rice noodles (pad thai)
2 medium limes, 1 juiced and 1 cut into wedges
1-1/2 Tbs. packed light brown sugar
2 tsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. fish sauce
3/4 lb. peeled and deveined large shrimp (31 to 40 per lb.)
3 Tbs. canola or peanut oil
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
Freshly ground black pepper
2 medium red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and finely diced
1 medium jalapeño, seeded and finely diced
1 large shallot, finely diced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions
1. Bring a medium pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the noodles, lower the heat to a gentle simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the noodles are just tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a colander and run under cold water to cool slightly. Drain well.

2. In a small bowl, combine the lime juice, sugar, soy sauce, and fish sauce; set aside. In a medium bowl, toss the shrimp with 1 Tbs. of the oil, the coriander, 1/2 tsp. pepper, and 1/4 tsp. salt.

3. Heat the remaining 2 Tbs. oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering hot. Add the red pepper, jalapeño, and shallot, sprinkle with 1/4 tsp. salt, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.

4. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring, until it turns pink and is almost cooked through, about 2 minutes. Add the lime juice mixture and cook, stirring, until the shrimp is cooked through, about 1 minute more.

5. Add the noodles and half of the cilantro; toss until the noodles heat through and pick up the sauce, 1 to 2 minutes.

6. Serve sprinkled with the remaining cilantro, with the lime wedges on the side for squeezing.

Serves 3-4.

What did you create this week?

Pinterest Challenge: Week Two*

Welcome to the Pinterest Challenge: Week Two! If you are new to this challenge [as I'm sure most people are since we're only in week two!] then feel free to go here to check out the rules & all pertinent information.

When we started talking about the nursery plans, I was pretty set with the fact that I didn't want a traditional changing table. The room we are using is a decent size, but there were a few key things that I wanted & didn't want to give up. Space was one of them, which means minimal furniture. In an attempt to not only save space but utilize it as best as we could, we decided to find a used dresser and re-purpose it, using the top as our changing table portion.

We got this baby for $100 from a used furniture store near our house. I fell in love with the detail as well as the size & space. It's a heavy piece & very sturdy, but obviously needed some love:

With this project in mind [even before we found the dresser] I had been keeping my eyes open on Pinterest for ways to re-purpose furniture, as well as ideas in general on what color to paint it. Because we had painted the walls such a dark grey, we wanted to stick with really light & bright colors for the rest of the furniture & I wanted the dresser to really pop. I was willing to do the work necessary for a re-purpose job ... until I got this one. I loved the detail, but sanding this bad boy down was going to be a bitch. What was I thinking??

And then I came across Annie Sloan Chalk Paint on pinterest. A product that claimed to be so simple & fabulous, that no prep work was necessary. A paint that doesn't need any sanding? That fills in gaps & holes, & doesn't leave paint streaks? What?? How is this possible? They also claim that you can use this paint on almost anything: furniture, walls, indoors, outdoors ... anything! After searching many, many blogs to see if the claim was true [do a search ... people swear by this paint product!] & searched for a US retailer that shipped, I ordered the paint & got to painting. Because we wanted something bright, I went with the color Provence:

A nice, bright teal! As soon as I opened the can, I knew I was in love. I should also probably mention that I have no idea why they call it "Chalk Paint." This is not chalkboard paint, so please don't get the wrong idea. I haven't quite figured that out yet. But the paint definitely went on as smooth as people said it would. The paint is a little thicker, so I did have to use two coats. However, if you wanted a more rustic look, one coat would have been fine. A lot of people sand down their projects a little, to give it that little bit of "extra rustic" look but I wanted a good solid color, so I applied two coats and left it as is.

After painting & letting dry, I applied a coat of the clear wax, which keeps the paint from scratching & overall just protects the product. I definitely recommend it. I was hesitant at first, but was glad I spent the extra money. The wax can be reapplied overtime, keeping it in good condition.

All in all, I'm pretty happy with the final product. I think it's the pop of color that we need in the nursery while also being functional. And, I think it looks good :)

Pin It


Alright people! Show me the goods! What did you do this week??

Pinterest Challenge: Week One*

Here we go folks! The first every Pinterest Challenge! Below is the link up for this week. Bear with me, as I'm using this program for the first time, so here's hoping it works! If you are new to all of this [as we all are!] you can find all the rules and specifications here, or by clicking the "Pinterest Challenge" link up in the tool bar!

This week, to get things started, we asked you to just show us your favorite Pinterest find that you've written about in the past! A recipe. A craft project. A homemade good. Anything!

Since most of the things I've found on Pinterest [ok, the only things I've actually made from Pinterest] are recipes, I thought I would share one of my favorites. I found this recipe a while back and it definitely made for a great dinner. I have no doubt in my mind that you will think it's tasty. I regularly use a little cheese in my turkey burgers [so not a big jump, plus feta ... nom.] & who doesn't love avocado?? I foresee these being a new alternative to the normal way I make them.

Feta-Avocado Turkey Burger Pitas

by Sweet Treats and More [Photo Hers]

For the turkey burgers:

1 lb ground turkey burger

1 avocado, diced

1 cup crumbled feta cheese

1/2 tsp garlic salt

3 tbs bread crumbs

3 tbs diced green onion

salt and pepper

Served with: 

1 pkg whole wheat pitas 

2 tomatoes, sliced

1 head of lettuce, separated

Spicy Mayo

1/3 cup light Mayo

1-2 tsp cumin (depending on how strong you like it)

1. In a large bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients together, mixing with your hands until evenly incorporated.  Shape into 6 patties.  Season both sides with salt and pepper. 

2. Lightly brush each side of the patties with extra virgin olive oil.  Place patties on the grill (high heat), cooking about 6 minutes each side until cooked through.  

3.  Spread some of the spicy mayo in each pita pocket and place a turkey burger in each.  Garnish with lettuce and tomatoes.   

So there you go, friends! What do you have?! I can't wait to see any submissions that come in this week. Be sure to share this challenge with all your friends!

Pinterest Challenge 2012*

If you read this blog regularly, you have seen me mention COUNTLESS times about various things I have discovered on Pinterest. More often than not, they are recipes that I try for dinner, because I'm a total foodie and love to cook [I also love to cook really great meals that don't take more than 30 minutes during the week because seriously, who wants to slave away in the kitchen after slaving away at a desk all day? Yeah. Nobody.]

Quick detour, if you are not signed up on Pinterest, follow the link and check it out. It takes a little while to get your account registration approved, but it is totally worth it. And addicting. Don't say you haven't been warned.

My good friend, Cortney, over at A Dog, A Farm, A Canvas, A Quilt wrote a really great post today about how freaking awesome Pinterest is, but how it is also a huge time suck. Like her, I spend most of my time on it [which is a lot] re-pinning things, but rarely ever DOING the things I pin, therefore, making the whole point of the site a big fat waste of time. I will admit that I have found many great recipes through Pinterest that have been solid winners in my kitchen. But aside from the cooking, I haven't done much else.

So here's the plan. folks.

Like Cortney, I am going to attempt to make at least one thing a week that I find on Pinterest. I plan on sharing here, because I want to be accountable for actually being productive. Plus, this will help me out with one of my New Year's Goals. BUT, because I know so many people who frequent Pinterest, and who also happen to blog, I thought I would make this a group effort!

So let's do a link up!

Starting this Thursday, and every week through the rest of the year, do something creative that you find on Pinterest. Whether it's a recipe that you try for the first time, a homemade product, a knitting pattern that you fell in love with & decided to make, a photo that you took that was better than past photos because of tips you found on Pinterest .... you get the idea! Every Thursday I will open up the links and keep them open throughout the weekend. Come here, share your wonderfulness and see what other people are doing. Maybe you'll be inspired to try something else new!

Since it's already Tuesday, and Thursday is right around the corner, let's start the week with anything that you have done from Pinterest in the past. If you have already blogged about it, feel free to link up to that blog post. If you haven't blogged about it, but want to, feel free to do that as well.

I've written a detailed page with instructions, what to post, what to include, etc and you can find that here [or, by clicking "Pinterest Challenge" up in the menu bar!] Eventually, I will also include a button that you can add to your site & include in your posts.

Let's have some fun, people!