Then he was 4. And his Momma cried.

I'm not really sure how this:

Turned into this:

So very quickly, but it has happened. 

My baby boy is the big 4 today. 

Not a toddler anymore, but a big boy... 

...who loves computer games and can knows his way around an iPad better than me.

...who can count to 100 and has knows his ABC's for at least a year. 

...who has an incredible memory and won't let you get away with anything.

...who negotiates like no one I've ever known and usually has a good reason why he's right.

...who adores his baby brother and can calm him down in 2 seconds flat.

...who has a huge heart and is always ready to tell me how nice I look and how much he loves me.

...who will always be my baby. 

Oh, how I love you, my Cooperman! Happy 4th Birthday!

It looks like McQueen and Mater have taken up residence in my house. I'll be showing you tomorrows Car's party next week! Eek!

Nantucket clean {A Fashion Post}

This outfit makes me want to be on the beach with my big straw hat for the weekend.

Top: Gap

Jeans: H&M

Shoes: c/o Naturalizer

Belt: H&M

Ring: F21

Enter the Chalk City Giveaway going on at the review blog!

Why yes, I do run in undies.

This past weekend was my first back to work since Callan was born. 2 hours into my overnight shift, a 7 year old little lady protested bedtime by throwing poo on me. 

I couldn't get out of my scrubs fast enough. 

The only clothes choices you have lying around when you work in pediatrics are well, kid sized. I ended up squeezing into these little black shorts for the next 2 hours while my scrubs were in the wash.  

What does this have to do with running? Well, after those couple hours, I decided I loved the shorts and would totally run in them. Apparently, little girl Soffe shorts are just my style. Which made me think of the all the crap I got while my actual runner friends were here for our half marathon. 

It started with the girls saying, "you run in Nike Frees?! Yeah, I do. Aren't they running shoes? Apparently not. Even the guy at the running store told me they really aren't half marathon kinda shoes. Whoops. 

In our outfit planning chatter, I told the girls I was going to wear a pink tank I had. "Not a dry fit? How do you run in that?"

 Then there was the, "I can't let you run 13.1 miles in those Kohl's ankles socks." One of which had a hole just big enough for my big toe to peek through. 

And the thing that made me giggle the most, was when I set out my outfit the night before race day...with undies...and my sister laughed at me. Because thats what those tight built in things are for?  

I will admit, I tried a dry fit shirt and felt about 700 degrees cooler while I ran. I also bought some $15 a pair socks, which was extremely painful, but I didn't get any blisters after 13.1. (I didn't have any during training either, so I'm not sure if that counts!) I guess all the real gear isn't just a crock. Its a discovery kinda like my shaving cream one. 

But one thing's for sure. My momma told me not to be the pantiless girl and I think that rule applies to running, too. I'm not going to be the one that has some wardrobe malfunction and crosses the finish line with one butt cheek out. 

To the Maxi-mum. {A Fashion Post}

We went from 89 degrees on Monday to 59 yesterday. What in the world. Good thing I didn't pack up my long sleeve stuff yet!

The only other time I wore this maxi dress was as a skirt when I was very pregnant. See the hugeness here. 

I love the sheer top layer of this dress. Makes me feel a bit springy even though it totally doesn't feel it outside. Oh, and how much better is my little garden in the background?! I feel so domestic with my herbs...now we'll see if they grow! 

If I had to name a pair of shoes my trusty spring/summer go-tos, it would be these Tar-jay cheapos. 

Lord have mercy, Mama needs some color on those roots pronto. 

Outfit Deets:

Maxi: F21

Jacket: Aeropostale

Belt: Charlotte Russe

Shoes: Target

Button Necklace: Made by my sis

Only bad thing about this outfit? Totally not nursing friendly. Thank goodness for really dark tint in the back of my car so the entire Target parking lot didn't see me wrestle with my clothes.

Pallet Herb Garden

Over the weekend, we finally cleaned out my little garden area and this is the finished product! It was a combo of Pinterest inspiration, of course. Here and here. 

If you remember from last week's outfit post, this was what remained of last year's garden.

Plus a little liquid motivation.

I started at Lowes, where I asked in the garden department for a pallet. 

I planted 5 different herbs and some flowers in 6" terra cotta pots.

Then, I dug out all the old soil, replaced it and buried the pallet a bit.

Hubs then screwed hose clamps (plumbing section) into the pallet in varying heights.  

The potted herbs hang perfectly and are labeled with wine corks.

On the ground, I have a hosta to grow up and cover the brick along the back wall, then squash and strawberries planted in front. I also planted a compact tomato plant in a pot. We have deer that won't cross the patio, but will eat all these veggies if I plant them in the actual yard!

It was about 80 yesterday, so Callan napped in the buff while I worked. Naked baby rolls are so sweet!

A little lemon-y cheesecake goodness. {RECIPE}

My next door neighbor just had a gorgeous, tiny baby girl. I organized the neighbors to bring her meals. When I was trying to decide what to make, it hit me. Pinterest. She pins everything she would eat, so why not make everything off her food board? 

And that's what I did. Enter this addicting goodness:

I followed the recipe from Favorite Family Recipes. So stinking easy. 

Lemon cake mix, oil and egg

Pressed into the bottom of a 13x9

After baking, its topped with a cream cheese mixture

And some reserved crumbles. 

And just a reminder of what they look like when they're done. Good thing I doubled the recipe so I could keep a try for myself. Also good that I took a picture because they're long gone. 

• Recipe:
• Crust:
• 1 pkg. lemon cake mix
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 
  
• Filling:
• 8 oz. pkg cream cheese
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 egg
• 1 cup sugar
• 
  
• Mix crust, reserving 1 cup. Press into 9x13 and bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Whip filling until fluffy. Spread onto baked crust and top with reserved crust mixture. Bake for 25 minutes, cooling completely before cutting into squares. Yummy! 

Naturalizer Shoe Giveaway!

Remember those Naturalizer shoes I wore for Easter and in this fashion post? Well, head to my review blog where you can win a pair of Naturalizer shoes of your choice! 

Out of the Park Baseball Potatoes: Country Crock Recipe

This post is sponsored by Country Crock. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Mmmh, Country Crock. I grew up with the stuff always in our fridge. I remember my sister getting in trouble for eating it out of the tub by the spoonful. 


Now, I think of Country Crock, and I think about my toast staying in 1 piece while I spread the buttery goodness on it. I now also think about it helping my kids to eat veggies. 


See, they have this cookbook, the Clare Crespo Cookbook, called A Very Veggie World. Its full of the cutest (pinterest style) veggie recipes, with step-by-step instructions, sure to wow the most veggie disgusted child. 8 out of 10 kids think that veggies with Country Crock are delicious. Not too bad of odds, huh?


I tried out the baseball cuteness on Cooper.


To regular cooked potatoes, add the Country Crock goodness. 

as well as reduced-fat sour cream, garlic, salt and pepper.

Smash them up, then scoop out with an ice cream scoop. 

Once you place your "baseball" on the plate, add thinly sliced red pepper as the "stitching".

Your child will gasp with excitement, then give you a goofy grin.

And proceed to EAT HIS VEGGIES. Never have I seen him eat red pepper. Followed by, "Mom, I like it!" Holy cannoli. 

Don't even get me started on the character shirt. I have learned that there are things worth fighting over. Like eating veggies. He can wear Lego Star Wars around the house as much as he wants too. 

So here's the recipe:

1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and very thinly sliced

3 medium baking potatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped

2 Tbsp. Country Crock® Spread 

2 Tbsp. reduced-fat sour cream 

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

I haven't bought Country Crock in quite awhile before I was asked to write this post. I was impressed when I checked into the nutritional information, though. Its a good choice in butter replacement. 70% less saturated fat and 30% fewer calories than butter on top of 0 trans fat. And lets not forget spreadability. 

Are you looking for quick and simple tips and recipes to make serving veggies more fun? Download the FREE Clare Crespo Cookbook here for fun and whimsical recipes your family is sure to love! 

Check out Country Crock on Facebook and Twitter to learn more! 

Yellow and Polka Dots {A Fashion Post}

I love me some polka dots this season. This is actually my only polka dot piece currently and my goal is to fix that. 

Say, by the end of the week. 

Bright colors are all the rage this season and yellow is my favorite color. 

Enter very bright jacket.

These shoes are crazy comfy. You know why? They're Naturalizer. No, one of my sons did not procreate last week, making me a grandmother. Naturalizer has stepped up their game! I'll be giving away a free pair later this week, so keep your eye out. 

If you're feeling all judgy about my rundown little garden with scraps from last year, watch it. These minty nails will be dirt filled this weekend making it beautiful again! I took pics here on purpose so I could have a before and after. And then maybe I'll do an after, after where its all dead from my black thumb. Again. 

Outfit Deets:

Top: F21

Jeans: Levis - Macy's

Jacket: Old Navy

Shoes: c/o Naturalizer

I'm about to hit the mall with 2 kids and 1 stroller. Wish me luck.

Happy Hump Day!

Easter 2012

Our first family of 4 Easter picture!

I feel like the whole Easter weekend was a blur. Saturday included dyeing tons of eggs. 

We'll be eating egg salad for years. 

I wish I had gotten the look on Cooper's face when he saw that the Easter Bunny had eaten the snack he left for him. Priceless. 

He was overjoyed with his goodies. Even though Mr. Hoppity was feeling very practical this year. 

(I.E. boxers, undershirts and pjs.)

What do you get a baby for Easter? Oballs and baby food! 

Beautiful disaster. 

Right before church, this was the only picture I got of both boys in their full outfits. Coop promptly changed his cute loafers into Toy Story flip flops.

We went to the hubs sister's house for lunch where Cooper put on a proud display of his silly faces. I'm going to have some winners to show at his high school graduation.

I guess when you have more than 1 child, you grow to love the pics they are both looking decent in...even if they're both looking in different directions.

Then that sweet moment turned sad but hilarious as Coop yelled "I'm going to let him fall!" As Callan flopped down into the grass. 

Can't you just hear him saying that in this picture? 

And lastly, lets just get a group picture for the Grandparents...While Cooper kung foo fights in front of us all. 

That kid never leaves me a dull moment.