Just Hanging Out...

I lost...

...and last night we got a puppy. I'd like to say last night Adam got a puppy, and I was just along for the ride, but around 5 AM when the puppy was whining to get out of her cage, I realized that "we" have a puppy now. Here's how it went last night when "we" were picking out which puppy to bring home:

Adam: Look, babe, aren't these puppies so cute?

Kristen: Yes, they are cute as long as they just sit there. (puppy jumps on my lap)

Adam: See, she likes you. (puppy licks Kristen's arm)

Kristen: Ewwww, the puppy just licked me.

Adam: Oh man, I can see we have a long way to go..........

This morning --(as I walk through the laundry room where the dog cage is)

Kristen: Hey babe, I have a question...is this laundry room always going to smell like this from now on or is this just because she needs a bath?

Adam: Smell like what?

Kristen: Like DOG

Adam: Well, she is a dog........

Later this morning --(as Adam is outside washing the car and I walk outside with Rocklin)

Kristen: Hi babe, and, uh, Hi Maggie

Adam: Can you believe you're a dog owner now?

Kristen: Um, no.

Kristen: Uh, babe, the dog is eating something, it looks like a string, and I think she's about to swallow it.

Adam: Well, take it out of her mouth.

Kristen: No way! Then she's going to lick my hand!

Adam: Chuckles .... (but I know inside he's thinking oh my gosh, is this girl for real)

We named the puppy Maggie. We also got a pink collar and a pink leash for it. When we were at PetsMart last night picking up the pink accessories, I asked Adam if he's going to feel super unmanly walking the dog with a pink leash. He said no, I'll do whatever it takes. So, we'll see how this whole puppy adventure goes. I will admit, she is cute, but it's just the idea of getting used to having a dog around. Well, the idea of having a PUPPY around for now. It's just like having another baby. I think I should post again on Monday evening, after spending the day alone with Rocklin and Maggie by myself (of which I can say I'm too thrilled about....but we'll see).

Meanwhile, here are some pictures of Maggie:

Bag Lady

I love purses. Love, love, love. Now that I have to carry a diaper bag everywhere I go, I've put my purses to rest for a bit, but I still love them. I came across this website after purchasing some stationary by this designer. So cute! I just LOVE this bag. The coolest part is that you can buy the pattern for it to make it yourself instead of spending some ridiculous amount of money on it! I've pulled out my sewing machine lately for a couple of different fun projects, and i think I need to make this bag as my next project.

Hair-Do

Getting my hair done has always been one of those necessary luxuries for me. Back when I was single and my funds were a little more flexible, I pretty much had a standing hair appointment. If I went more than two months without getting my color done, the world as I knew it was coming to an end. Now that I am married with a family, I have seen the light that there are other, more important things that we need to spend money on, silly things like electricity bills and groceries.

It's been about 5 months or so since I last had my hair done and boy is it time for an update! Will someone please nominate me for one of those makeover shows?!?! I was planning on getting my hair done like a week or so before my due date so that I would look "cute" in my pictures right after giving birth. What a joke that was. Not only did I not get my hair done due to my bed rest, but I think my hair had gone three days or so without even a washing by the time I had Rocklin via C-section. Needless to say, the pictures are nearly as "cute" as I was hoping for!

So with that being said, I scheduled a hair appointment for myself a week from Wednesday with a girl that some of my girlfriends in my ward go to. She's supposed to be really good and let me tell you, I CAN'T WAIT!! My hair is longer right now then it's been in a loooong time. While I like the look of long hair, something about this Arizona heat makes me want to shave my head. Don't worry, I don't think I'll take it to that extreme, but I do think I'm going to get a lot of it cut off. Not to mention my roots are so blah. I'll have to take some before and after pictures. And hopefully, there will be a noticeable difference! (Every time I get my hair cut, I say I'm going to do something different but it always comes out the exact same, just about one inch shorter and one shade lighter. Does that happen to anyone else??)

That brings me to one more question - when you go to get your hair done these days, how much do you tip? Do you tip a percentage or just a flat $5, $10, $20, etc.? We all know it isn't exactly cheap to get your hair done (well, for a GOOD cut and color). By the time I've shelled out at least $100, it aches me to then pull out even more to tip the hairdresser who is going to be pocketing at least half of the money I just spent on getting my hair done. Now, I know that sounds incredibly cheap, and I guess I am sometimes, but I just wanted to know what everyone else tips. I don't want to stiff my new hair girl on her tip next week, but I also want to tip within reason. What does everyone else do?

I Love This Kid!

Cinnamon & Sugar Muffins

Thanks to my friend Aimee for emailing this recipe to me for these fantastic cinnamon and sugar muffins! I made them the other day and they were SO good and fun to make. I've listed the recipe below...

2 cups flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 large eggs
1 cup plain yogurt
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
4 to 8 tbsp. oil (I used 5 tbsp.)
1 tsp. vanilla

Topping

1/2 stick of butter, melted
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon


1. Preheat oven to 400 degree. Line a standards muffin pan with paper cups.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, yogurt, sugar, oil and vanilla. Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet mixture. Do not over mix.

3. Divide batter among the muffin cups and bake for about 12-15 minutes.

4. While the muffins are baking, melt 1/2 stick of butter and place in a bowl large enough to hold a muffin. Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small shallow bowl. As soon as the muffins are done, dip them in the butter and then roll them in the sugar mixture. Set on a rack to cool.

Enjoy!!

I'll trade ya...

Rocklin and I just got home from Costco. For some reason I love going to Costco; almost as much as I love going to Target or IKEA. Anyway, while we were there, little Mr. Rocklin got a lot of attention. When we first walked in, this older lady told me she'd trade me her puppy for Rocklin. Then the free sample lady told me I could have all the free samples I wanted if I would give her my baby. Then another random lady asked me what isle I found him on because she would like one just like him. Then the snack bar man told me he'd give me two churros for the baby.

It's fun to know other people think Rocklin is as cute as I do.

Guacamole

In honor of all things green from yesterday's holiday (I meant to post this yesterday, but ran out of time), and in my quest to spread yummy recipes, here's another I tried this past weekend that was a big hit. I can't take credit for coming up with this recipe, I found it on a friend of a friend of a friend's blog (you know how that goes). Here goes:

Guacamole

2 avocados, diced
1 tomato, seeded and chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 serrano pepper, minced (seeds removed for less heat, if desired)
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/3 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
juice of 1 lime

Combine all the ingredients and blend gently.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Rant

Can I just say how much I HATE dealing with Insurance companies...I'm on hold with them right now. The least they could do is give you some decent hold music...............

Yummy...

When my mom was in town right after Rocklin was born, she was kind enough to make us dinners at night. There is one in particular that she made that Adam and I just love. It's from the Cooking Light magazine, and I use wheat pasta when making it, so it's pretty healthy too! I thought I'd share the recipe with anyone who may be interested in trying something new. If you make it, let me know what you think! (And I think in the future, if I cook something good, or pull out an old recipe that I like, I will try and post it for anyone else to make. I don't know about you, but I'm always on the hunt for a good new recipe). Enjoy!

Baked Pasta with Sausage, Tomatoes and Cheese

1 (1 lb.) package uncooked ziti (I use wheat penne pasta)
1 pound turkey Italian sausage links (you can use hot turkey sausage links if you prefer)
1 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tablespoon tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 (14.5 ounce) cans petite diced tomatoes, undrained
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil (or 1/8 c. dried)
Cooking spray
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded fresh mozzarella cheese
1 cup (4 oz.) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Cook pasta according to package direction, omitting salt and fat. Drain pasta; set aside.
3. Remove casings from sausage. Cook sausage, onion and garlic in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until sausage is browned, stirring to crumble. Add tomato paste, salt, black pepper and diced tomatoes to pan; bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Combine cooked pasta, sausage mixture, and basil. Place half of the pasta mixture in a 4-quart casserole dish coated with cooking spray. Top with half mozzarella and half Parmesan. Repeat layers. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until bubbly.

Yield: 8 servings (serving size approx. 1 1/2 cups)Calories: 413Fat: 11.8 grams

Who does Rocklin look more like?

This says that Rocklin looks like me more than Adam? What do you think...I disagree!

Big Boy!

Today Adam and I were hanging out in the office and we had Rocklin laying on the couch. He fussed whenever we laid him down, so we sat him up in the corner of the couch and he loved it! He's getting to be such a big boy already; he's filling out and getting such kissable cheeks! He'll be two months old this week!

I Quit!

Yesterday I quit my job. I've been out on maternity leave since I went out on bed rest back in December and I was supposed to go back part time next week. However, the thought of leaving Rocklin with someone other than me during the day was just getting to be too much for me to think about. Adam and I decided that it would be best for now if I quit my job to stay at home and raise Rocklin. I may entertain the idea of working with a former client from home, but we'll see. Right now my focus is on Rocklin and making sure he knows how much his momma loves him!

I have worked in corporate America for the past 10 years and I will say that quitting my job yesterday to stay at home full-time with my child is a liberating feeling! Growing up, I always dreamed of being a mom and never envisioned myself as the "corporate" type, but life didn't exactly go as I had initially planned for myself and I had to get a "real" job. I have been blessed with some great opportunities during the past 10 years and have learned so much at each of my jobs, but I have a feeling that the biggest lessons in life are yet to be learned as I watch this little person grow before my eyes. I am so thankful to be blessed with this opportunity!

As a side note, here are some of the jobs I've had since I began working 13 years ago...

• Chuck E. Cheese (and yes, I did have to dress up like Chuckie once!)
• Lifegaurd
• Swimming Lessons Teacher
• Consignment Store (I priced and sold used clothing and furniture)
• Telemarketer (HATED it...but Provo didn't have much else to offer me at the time)
• Receptionist at a car dealership
• Sales Assistant at an online job board
• Administrative Assistant for a few different companies
• Executive Assistant for an executive search firm
• Human Resources Coordinator
• Recruiter for a video gaming company
• MOM

Mad About Plaid!

Our little family had a fun day yesterday! Adam had to go to a couple of job sites for work, so Rocklin and I came with him and just cruised around the malls while he was working. Afterwards, we went out to dinner with some of Adam's co-workers and then to a wedding reception. I know I've said it before, and I hope I don't jinx myself by saying it again, but Rocklin is such a good baby. The whole day he was in and out of his car seat and stroller and the entire time he just sat there and chilled and looked around without crying or anything. I'm keeping my fingers crossed he keeps up this good behavior!

While at the mall, we got Rocklin this adorable outfit. (Ever since we found out we were having a boy, I couldn't wait to get him a little sweater vest!).

Our neighbors gave us this super cute little outfit and we had him in it yesterday for the wedding reception. It even has teeny little matching plaid shoes, however you can't see them well in this picture and they didn't stay on for the long haul.

You have to wonder what's going thru a baby's mind when he makes faces like this:

Mommy & Rocklin: