Gift Idea: “Scrappy” Recipe Book

Do you know someone who has a recipe book that looks like this? Well, I did.

This recipe book is my mother-in-laws. You wouldn’t know it from looking at the above two sad, sad pictures, but this recipe book is beyond special. Not only is it full of years and years worth of only the best newspaper, TV, magazine, internet, friends recipes etc., but also Italian family recipes passed down from generation to generation. You could call this recipe book the “Recipe Bible.” Seriously.

My mother-in-law loves to cook, like most Italian women do. This year for her birthday we figured we get her something she could use when doing her favorite hobby, cooking. The only problem with this was she has every cooking utensil, pot, pan, appliance etc. that one woman should have. So, we thought and thought and then it came to us… we (that means I in hubby language) should organize her outrageously, overflowing, unorganized cookbook. That way it will look as special as what’s in it. Okay, I figured, I can organize it.

So, by the time we (I) decided to start the project of organizing the “Recipe Bible” for the birthday present it was T-minus 6 days. On day 2 of my just organize it project the hubby dropped a bomb on me. He came home from work and said “You know what would be really cool? If you could make the recipe book, you know, scrappy.” Although a very good idea, my husband has no idea the time it takes to make something like this “scrappy.” When he suggested this, I thought to myself at first, “Why don’t YOU make it SCRAPPY Mr.” Well, as daunting of a task it was to complete in the remaining 5 days, I did organize it and make it “scrappy.” And guess what? I’m glad I did, because it turned out awesome!

Here is the finished product.

My mother-in-law LOVED this present! After she opened it, she couldn’t stop looking through it and even took it to work with her and showed it off. I think it was, in her eyes, the best gift we have ever given her.

Sometimes the gifts that are from the heart and just take a little time and elbow grease are without a doubt the most appreciated and treasured.

If you want to make your own scrappy recipe book here are my tips:

• Gather all the recipes you intend to scrap.
• Gather scrapping supplies. (Scrapbook, Solid and patterned scrapbook paper, plastic page covers, ribbon, glue, plain and decorative scissors, hole punch and whatever stickers/embellishments you chose.
• Separate the recipes into piles for the different sections in your book. My sections were as follows: Family Traditions, Appetizers & Snacks, Beans, Rice & Grains, Beverages, Breads, Cakes & Frostings, Cheese & Eggs, Cookies, Candies & Bars, Desserts, Fish & Shellfish, Meat, Pasta, Pies & Tarts, Poultry, Salads & Dressings, Soups & Stews and Vegetables & Fruits.
• Make all the section title pages at once. After I was done with the title pages, I put them in their plastic page covers, punched a hole and tied a ribbon in the hole to designated a new section.
• Scrap one section at a time. (So you don’t get overwhelmed)
• Leave room for more recipes in each section. (This way it is something you can build upon.)
• The rest is up to you. There really is no wrong or right way. Let your heart and your creative noodle guide you!

Happy Scrapping!

The Momma Diaries - And we bid farewell to the fastest diaper change in the west!

Dear Diary,

When you're on the journey to becoming a mother for the first time, you wonder if you're gonna know what to do when baby gets here. You worry about everything, even the small things. I know every mother is different, but the one thing that wasn't on my plate of worries was the good old diaper change. Yup, I knew for sure I could handle the diaper change. Everything else was on the table for failure.

Just as I thought, when Princess B was born, I had the diaper change in the bag and everything else was a learning process to say the least. My husband was even shocked by how precise and also quick my diaper changes were. He once laughed and said, "I think that you do the fastest diaper change in the West." Now, I know some other ladies that got me beat on the diaper change thing, but when it takes the hubby 30 minutes to change a diaper on the little angel Princess B who hardly moved at the time, mine seemed like lighting I'm sure!

Princess B is 6 months now and she has flipped my world upside down. I now have everything else in the bag and the diaper change is now relentlessly on the table for failure. What the heck happened!? Well, I'll tell ya what happened. Princess B learned to grab the diaper, kick her feet, roll every which way, stick her feet in poop, kick mom with the poopy feet, eat the clean diaper, throw the clean diaper on the floor, scream at the top of her lungs, pull wipes out of the dispenser, eat the wipes, attempt self-catapulting herself from the changing table to the floor causing the entire diaper change to now be conducted on the floor... you get the idea. I would seriously compare changing the diaper of Princess B to wresting a wild Javelina; it’s a wild, dangerous, smelly, scary and screamed filled event! Heaven please help me once she starts actually crawling. I’ll have to call in reinforcements!

I LOVE U MY Wild and Crazy Princess B.

Outfit: Baby Gap

My Favorite Things for Princess B - Second Three Months

Well, another 3 months has flown by. Princess B is 6 months now! Time two share with you my top 10 favorite things for Princess B for months 3 - 6.

1.) Anden and Anais Muslin Receiving Blankets

We are gettin' good use out of these babies! If you remember, these were on my list of My Favorite Things for Princess B - First Three Months

2.) Bumbo Baby Seat and Play Tray

3.) Fisher-Price Rain Forest Melodies and Lights Deluxe Gym

4.) Fisher Price Jumperoo (Similar to this one; Mine was brighter colors)

5.) Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes

6.) Summer Infant Large Comfort Bather

7.) Green Sprouts Fruit Teether

8.) Sassy Ring and Phone Rattle

9.) Chicco Capri Stroller

I know I said in my post, My Favorite Things for Princess B - First Three Months, I said I wasn't mentioning the obvious things like a stroller, but in this case I have to. This stroller was purchased primarily for travel and it has been awesome! Super compact and light-weight for going through security, gate checking and riding shuttles/trams at the airport. This is the perfect option when I don't feel like using my Chicco Travel System

10.) RuffleButts Bloomers

And that's all folks! If you need help figuring what general baby items to buy check out the “must-haves” checklist at Babies R’Us.

Other moms out there please comment about favorite items for your baby!

The Momma Diaries - One Squirm Away from Crawling

Dear Diary,

This last week has made me excited, but is breaking my heart at the same time. Princess B is sitting up pretty good on her own and is one squirm away from crawling. Although I anxiously await each new thing she going to do, I feel like the time is passing too fast! When I go to get her from her crib she is no longer laying in the cozy position momma laid her down in!

I love you when I come to get you in the morning,

and you greet me with a big toothless grin.

I love you when you leave me puzzled,

 as to why you like to sleep horizontal in your crib.

I love you when I sit you up and show me,

the greatest mow hawk known to man.

I love you when you do little monkey moves that say,

“Time to lower my mattress pronto!”

I love when you do such special things,

that only mommy gets to see.

I LOVE YOU Princess B!

Make Up: 7 Minute Summer Look

I used to spend a good half an hour putting on my make up. I don't necessary think I needed to take a half an hour, but I could, so I did. Why rush if you don't have to right!?  I am a girl who loves going and spending two hours in Sephora trying the latest make up products on the market and of course purchasing a few I happen to like. After leaving Sephora I'm pretty sure I would literally race-walk to my car and drive faster than normal home in order to try my new products out again and come up with a few new looks of which I would get bored of in a few weeks. And thus, the process would start over again. Plain and Simple... I love Make Up and have way too much of it!

Now that I'm a Momma, I don't have a half an hour to spend on my make up. Heck, some days I am lucky if I get any on at all. After six months of practice racing through my make up routine, I have a good summer look that would look good on most. It takes me about 7 minutes with the intermittent toy pick up. (Princess B's favorite game at the moment; Throw it on the floor and Momma picks it up! How fun for Momma. Wink-Wink.)

So here is how I go from this:

BEFORE

To This:

AFTER

And AFTER

And Again, AFTER

Here are the products I use to get my 7 Minute Summer Look:

1.) Revlon Photo Ready Foundation in Shell.

2.) Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion

3.) Nars Eye Shadow - From Bridal Palette Nepal, Edie and Ondine

4.) Urban Decay Eye Liner in Zero (Just on the top lash line and outer bottom lash line)

5.) L'Oreal Waterproof Carbon Black Mascara

6.) Nars Blush in Orgasm

7.) Nars Bronzer in Laguna

8.) Urban Decay Lip liner in Naked

9.) Nars Lip Pot in Chelsea Girls

Here is how I apply these products:

Light coat of Revlon Photo Ready Foundation applied with a wedge sponge. Little UD primer potion applied on entire eyelid with fingertip. Apply Nars eye shadow as follows: On the Lid - Nepal, As a Highlight - Edie and in the Crease - Ondine. I don't use very much,  just a few sweeps of each and make sure to blend well. I apply the UD eye liner to the upper lash line and outer corner only and soften line with an angled brush or cotton swab. Curl lashes. Apply L'Oreal mascara. Curl Lashes again. Few sweeps of Nars blush on cheek bones. Sweep of Nars bronzer on middle of forehead, sides of nose, cheek bones and jaw line. Line cupid's bow and bottom center with UD lip liner. Soften and smudge outward with finger tip. Apply Nars lip pot to entire lip. And voila, you're done!

I know this might seem like a lot if you normally don't take the time for make up, but it's actually pretty quick. These colors are light and natural and will give you a nice sun kissed look for summer without a bunch of fuss. Now go put your face on!

If your wondering what Princess B is doing while I get my 7 Minute Summer Look on, well here you go! She loves to primp right along side me!

(Don't worry, I stand right beside her the whole time.)

Have any good summer make up tips? Please share!

Father's Day 2011: Gift Ideas

Father's Day is right around the corner and if your like me you haven't purchased anything yet. I spent some time suffering the web and found some great gift options of various costs.

For the Family Man:

Hand Stamped Key Chain

For the cigar connoisseur:

Cigar Humidor

For the Sofa King:

Universal Remote

For the Grill Master:

Spice Rub

For the Fitness Finatic:

Nike Free Run + 2

For the Outdoorsman:

Garmin Two Way Radio with GPS

For the Fisherman:

Streamer Pack

and/or

Fly Fishing Box

For the Man's Man:

Man Cave Sign

For the Humanitarian:

Toms Shoes

For the Computer Guy:

IPad 2

For Any Man:

A Picture of His Kiddos in Blocks

I Heart My: Timi and Leslie Charlie Bag

I've been rolling around the last six months with this diaper bag my husband's parents got for him last year for Father's Day. Although this diaper bag had a little more "man-style" than what I had hoped to carry, I took it over because, well simply put, my husband would not need his OWN diaper bag. So, I figured why buy two when we only need one. Although this diaper bag has gotten the job done, I've had my eye on this other bag before Princess B was even born. And boy is it a beauty.

Well, just before I took a trip to Ohio recently, the strap on my "man-style" diaper bag broke to my dismay. (Wink-Wink) I took this as the perfect opportunity to jump on the computer and order/rush-ship the diaper bag I have long been pining over. Now, I have my very own Timi and Leslie Charlie Bag, which I absolutely HEART!

Well, I took Mr. Charlie (Yes, I named him. Guys name their cars, so can't a girl name her bag?!) to Ohio with me and boy was he a doll. He had plenty of room to cart around all Princess B's necessities and all my necessities crap, with room to spare. After this trial run of a trip, there are some features on this bag that I found extremely useful and want to share.

This bag comes with a number of different straps, of which I used all. Two non-detachable straps/handles allow you to carry the bag on your arm or on your shoulder. (I used these the most.) A detachable long-strap allows you to carry the bag across the body. Two detachable stroller straps allow you to hook the bag nicely on the back of your stroller.

All the pockets and components on the inside kept me super organized. I especially LOVE the key hook on the inside because I am constantly losing my keys.

Oh, and the accessories... Dirty Clothes Bag, Diaper Changing Pad, Insulated Bottle Carrier, and my FAVORITE... another small little bag/clutch/wristlet!

Meet Lil' Charlie. I HEART him too! What an extra hidden gem this little bag/clutch/wristlet was. So super handy to just be able to jump out of the car, grab Princess B and THIS, if I just had to pop in somewhere real quick. Inside you will find a zipper pouch and a bunch of card slots.

Honestly, I think the only downside of this bag for me is going to be the fact that it isn't going to fit in with my husbands "man-style." All I can say to that is "Oh Well" because he is normally not the one carting the diaper bag! (Wink-Wink) Love you hunny, but its true. :)

I love you Mr. Charlie and Lil' Charlie.

Get your own Timi and LeslieCharlie Bag!