The Blog is on Sick Leave

The blog is officially on sick leave. Thurs-Fri posts on organization, well aren't going to happen. 2/3 of our family is struck down with the flu; it's Day 3. 1 of us hasn't had our flu shot this year due to all the other illnesses that Sept-Oct brought. So while we battle high fevers, chills, coughs, sore throats, laryngitis and a host of other nice ailments our blog will be recuperating as well. Our pediatrician's office was so packed that we spent more time on the phone with them first at 11:32pm and then again the next day at 3pm. I figured it's best not to show up at that sespool of sickness anyway. There is no point to seeing my doctor either. My immune system was down due to the prednisone, I didn't get the flu shot (and there are none available), and I held a toddler w/ flu for 24 hrs. It was really inevitable. I was ready for it. I even went grocery shopping on Thursday to prepare. Not sure what to think for next week. I plan to cancel school/work if there are still fevers. No point in pushing it with the holidays coming up. And it's the right thing to do. We are just hoping our other 1/3 doesn't come down with anything. Fingers Crossed {and as Scott would say "laces out!"}

Here is a link to a one page print out on the difference between the cold/flu/H1N1. Thanks Corrine!

http://www.uetigers.stier.org/frontpage/schart1028.pdf

"See" you when we are all recovered!

The Organized Pantry

Storage space is key. We turned a large walk-in closet in the office {which is off the kitchen} into a large pantry. Trust me, if I could find a way to build more storage in this closet I would. When we bought the house, this closet had rotting old wood. After a nice coat of paint, we installed closet maid shelving from Lowes. I was worried our marriage would not survive the early stages of installation. Scott would have me hold the shelves just in place and then take off to find his supplies. But never fear, we lived to install another closet. It's nice we can close off all the jars, supplies, cleaning products from curious, little hands. It's been a work in progress and still is. Note the large picture frame that hides the unsightly electrical box. {Kim if you are reading this; I've done it again. But this time I will know where to alert the fire fighters should they ever need it}. Note the recycling vinyls I got from Etsy! So we group by category, the door holds lighter weight items, cleaning supplies are on a higher shelf, pasta is in clear plastic containers and we try to replace cans when we run low so there is always some on hand. Whew I tried to cover everything but if you ever need something in our house, chances are, it's in the pantry. Next I am looking for a "Pantry" sign for outside the door! Happy Organizing!

Organization Day 2: Artwork!

Display your artwork! Okay, I stole this idea from Ballards. A large corkboard placed in the dining room. I think it provides stimulating conversation at dinnertime, don't you? Avery likes to imitate her painting skills and point to the babies on the wall. It's also a great spot for all her current artwork! Once we start rotating her artwork, we are scanning in all the pieces for preservation. I mean, we can't save every copy that she marks! When she's older I'll put together a photobook of her scanned artwork. Miss Jenny says she's really becoming the little artist!

Family Organization Part 1

I am going to steer away from my favorite blogger topic: Avery to bring a 5 part series on home organziation. We are a two income, two person working family of 3. My daughter goes to a local school 3x a week on the days that I work, my husband works away from the home 5x a week. I feel we've made it work pretty well so far. We eat well, our place is clean/tidy, we manage play w/ work (at least enough for Avery). The only area we are still working on is finding the time to workout! But that's a work in progress for sure. One of my favorite people, Kristin, did a recent post on I Heart Ikea. I loved the grundtal stuff she had installed and decided to do the same for my own kitchen. Let me preface by saying I love the square footage in our home. I wouldn't actually go any higher for our next place. Being that we have 4 floors I would say the layout is the most challenging. We actually have a galley kitchen which is really small & narrow so space: storage, counterspace, cabinet space is an ever evolving issue. The space above our kitchen island we really needed to maximize. Especially since Avery is now into everything that is eye level or below. You really can't "babyproof" enough. My favorite is the paper towel holders that I use for aluminium foil & wax paper - 2 all time cooking & baking pieces for me. It was easy to install and yes the first time was the charm (oddly for us). Though it's tiny, the kitchen is really my 2nd office and thank goodness it now resides next to our office. Tomorrow we'll review the pantry I created over many months!

Mexican Crock Pot

We love Mexican here; and we love the crock pot too! This was a perfect dish to have warming while we went trick or treating on the foggy Sat evening. It freezes great too! For our family of 3 we usually get one meal, one leftover meal and one frozen dish. Perfect for the busy, working family!

Crock Pot Tex Mex

1 lb+ ground beef
1 1.2 pk taco/chili mix
2 15 oz cans chunky mex style (Del Monte)
1 can Red Kidney beans
1 can Black Beans
1 can whole kernel corn

Brown gr. Beef, drain fat.
Add to crockpot.
Add everything together.
Do not drain cans.
Stir.
Cook on low heat 4-6 hrs.
Or high heat 2 hrs.
Serve w/ corn chips, sliced green onions, sr. cream & cheese.
Enjoy!

Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!

She came, she saw, she got the loot! Above all, she enjoyed going in people's homes. Not everyone invited us in so Avery tried to slide past them anyway. Her favorite by far was Max & Sarah's where she got to play w/ Chessa. She scored big with a large shaker box of rasinettes at Dru & Betty's. By the end of the evening she had figured out to go double fisted really fast.

First Hair cut!

In the beginning there was unhappiness. I don't think she liked the cape.

There were many tears shed.

Then she realized that it was just hair and it would grow back, eventually.

Not what I'd call a "sassy diva" but we managed okay. She got a lollipop, certificate, some of her locks of curls (!!!), and a picture (or 2 by me). She loved all the goodies in the store, so I think we'll be back. Thanks Sweet n Sassy (Exton, Pa)!!

Welcome to the world baby girl!

My sister & her husband welcomed their first baby on Wednesday October 21st @ 11:26pm. Lyla Elizabeth weighed 7lb 11oz! Mom, baby & dad are doing quite well! I cannot wait til I get to hold her, snuggle her and ofcourse photograph her! And Avery is so excited to have a playmate!

Happy Pumpkining!!!

Favorite part of the trip: moving pumpkins from point A to point B.

And rearranging the gourds.

The Alchemist

My favorite book of all time. I have re-read it so many times. Note, the forelorn look is not from me, thankyouverymuch. It's been from much borrowing, ahem, you know who you are. If you are ever wondering about your personal path in life, your goals, what you believe in and the search for who you are, this book is for you!

On a personal note, thank you for all your concerns lately. I am on the mend finally. After battling much the past month with sinus infection, bronchitis, I had a sulfa allergy to the bactrim antibiotic and in the stages of recovering from that. The prednisone therapy has been going well. Slow, but well. Hopefully in the next 10 days I'll make a full recovery, as long as it will take to get out of my system. The hives seem to be gone, the rash on it's way out, swollen lymph nodes also on their way out, and the burns well lingering or at least they keep coming back. In the meantime, as I am relaxing (too much heat causes flare ups) I am thinking of re-reading. I think it's time for some new personal goals. Always evolving.

Feeding myself. A post by Avery.

I am so proud I can feed myself now! The spoon is still a little tricky when I have it upside down! I have to remember to eat first then clap!

By far, my favorite is the fork. For ofcourse, I can eat my meatballs and penne, my favorite food. The parents have gotten over the mess. xoxo Avery

Wilson Farm Park October

Beautiful weather we are having in the NE! After some nasty weather we wanted to spend as much time as possible outdoors while we still can! I find it's easier to take pictures while she is contained at this age ~ hence the captured smile. She LOVES the swings.

As usual. No regard for us. Mom who? I'm just going my own way.

My favorite: vintage w/ texture. Click on the picture to see the texture. She was intrigued with these.

Rita's Sour Cream Apple Pie

Decadent. Enjoy!

Sour Cream Apple Pie (Rita Lesher, my grandmother)

2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 cup sugar
6 T. flour
1 tsp vanilla
¼ tsp salt
3 cup chopped, peeled apples (about 4-5 Macintosh)
1 unbaked pie shell
3 T. melted margarine
¼ cup packed brown sugar

* Beat eggs; add sour cream. Stir in sugar, 2 T. flour, vanilla, salt; mix well. Stir in apples and pour into pie shell. Bake at 375 for 15min. Meanwhile combine butter, brown sugar & remaining flour. Sprinkle on top of pie. Return and bake for 20-25 min. Cool & refridgerate.

Turning a new leaf

I've been a very good blogger lately. I've rewarded myself at Homegoods. More on that on another post. I am also on a new antibiotic so that with Avery's nebulizer treatments coming to an end should mean back to a healthy household here. Let's hope! The leaves weren't at their peak this past weekend but it looked like fun nevertheless! Avery thought putting the leaf on her head was funny. She was not, however, keen on laying in the leaves like last year. The last one is my favorite. I have not nearly done as many black and whites I had hoped this year but the leaves gave the contrasting colors a nice depth. Notice her new white Nike's that she loves. Pop pop picked them out!