Thanks Mom and Dad!

As an early birthday present, my parents bought me the BOB Revolution!!  (That's a jogging stroller for those not obsessed with stroller makes and models.)  But it's not any jogging stroller, it is an amazing jogging stroller.

In looking for baby gear my motto was, "unless a safety issue, find it used and cheap".  So the car seats and crib were bought new, and most of the other gear was bought used (thank you Craigslist!).  We got a $10 stroller at a garage sale until we could get a jogging stroller.

At first it looked like there were a few reasonably priced jogging strollers on the market, but after reading the reviews, I found that they didn't work well for running (wheels would fall off...uh, no).  Eventually, I determined that my "cheapest" option was the BOB Revolution.  It can be both a jogger or a regular stroller because the wheel can be fixed or rotate.  It also held up well over time (mostly made of metal, not plastic) and it held its value (ones on Craigslist went for $250 in 24 hours...tried so hard to get one used, but I never emailed fast enough).

Although Amazon has the BOB cheaper than REI, I am an REI member and they have a 20% off coupon for all members (you can sign up now to receive the coupon...$20 for a lifetime membership and 10% back annually on all non-sale purchases).  Also it is much easier to return it to our local store rather than Amazon if something were to go wrong.

K and I went on our first run yesterday.  We ran 3.5 miles, and she didn't make a peep the whole time.  She really loves the outdoors.

"Hey Milk Truck...stop taking pictures, and let's go!"

 Thanks again Mom and Dad!

One of the things you give up when you have a baby...

There are a lot of things that you know you will give up when you have a baby: sleep, going out, sleep, seeing the latest movies, sleep, getting together with friends with a moment's notice...did I mention sleep?  Anyway besides the usual things, there are some things that hit you like a wall.  "Well if I'd only known..." you tell yourself.  I had one of these moments the other day. 

I was driving home my old route from work because Al had picked Katelyn up from daycare.  Usually I pick her up.  There was a very large "going out of business sale" sign at one of my favorite stores.  It sold very cute purses and jewelry.  I had missed the sale and closing...ugh!

Katelyn, you owe Mommy a clearance purse and necklace.  Love, Mom.

Rockin' the Clearance Rack

Last winter I found these great Jessica Simpson shoes on clearance at DSW for $17.  My feet soon became too chubby to wear them, but I knew (hoped) that I would be able to wear them soon.

 

 

While day after Thanksgiving shopping, I found the skirt for $10 at Kohl's.  I paired both with a blouse from Ann Taylor LOFT and a cardigan from New York and Company...

Finally Finished the Nursery!!!

We had several set backs while getting Katelyn's nursery ready.  The main one was that while refinishing the dresser, we had problems with the polyurethane and ended up having to strip the entire dresser to start all over again.  I was hoping to have the nursery finished by K's 16th birthday...so really, I'm ahead of schedule.

Here is the closest thing I have to a "before" photo.  This is after I had painted the ceiling, but hadn't painted the walls yet.  The table with all of the painting supplies is the bottom portion of the dresser before it was refinished...twice.  Also, a bonus picture of a pregnant me in painting gear.

Here are the "after" photos...

The twice refinished dresser.

Oh, are you taking pictures??

The branch is a stencil done in the beige from the other walls.  The letters are wood letters from Michael's Craft Store spray painted light pink.  The mobile I got from a garage sale for $5...woot woot!

Al found this rocking chair in 2004 on the curb next to the trash in Washington, DC.  He rescued it and spent countless hours stripping (not the fun kind), sanding, staining, and applying a hand rubbed poly.

Thanks for visiting my room!

Tree Genius!

Al brought home a ginormous Christmas tree today...and that act simultaneously started and finished his Christmas decorating for this year.  The hardest part of decorating the tree is always the lights.  And the hardest part about doing the lights is getting the roll of lights around the back of the tree with no one on the other side to grab them for you.  Check out my tree genius...

That is my Dyson as a tree light holder-assistant-thing...ok, the name needs work, but this is my tree genius idea that will make me millions!

Pesto!

My garden wasn't a huge success this year (could have had something to do with the fact that my rotund self wasn't too motivated to weed or water it), but my basil did really well.  It turned into small bushes!  So I harvested it (and by harvest I mean cut down with scissors) and decided to make me some pesto.

This is the recipe that I used.  I did extensive research to find it (aka it is the first Google result when searching for "pesto recipe").

I made 4 batches that filled 2 jars.  I ran out of cheese and ended up giving the rest of the basil away.

Step 1: Obtain a crap ton (technical cooking terminology) of basil and pick the leaves.

Step 2: Rinse the leaves.

Step 3: Put pine nuts and basil in a food processor.  Pulse until smooth.

Don't forget your economics textbook...this is crucial to making pesto.

Step 4: Add garlic (the recipe said to mince it first, but I am lazy and didn't...and it was fine).  Pulse until minced.

Step 5: Add the olive oil slowly (there should be a hole in the top of your food processor for this).

Step 6: Add the cheese, salt, and pepper.  Pulse to combine.

Now you have pesto!  Use it as a sauce on pasta or a baked potato, or use it instead of mayo on a sandwich.

"Fat" Pants

I'm in that perfect spot where maternity pants don't fit nor do my pre-pregnancy pants.  Luckily you can still try on clothes while wearing a baby, so off to Kohl's we went.  I found a pair of jeans on sale, and with my coupon, they were $20.  Here is my post-baby self...

Only 10 more pounds to go!!

I was also able to buy five t-shirts and a sweater at Old Navy for $29.  I think it will be a while before "the girls" will fit into pre-pregnancy tops.  The photo above shows me in a pre-pregnancy top...it is a little snug.