tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12081852454928276702024-02-26T00:50:08.667-08:00LaForce Be With YouEmily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.comBlogger507125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-6123428964653801392016-07-16T16:18:00.002-07:002016-07-16T16:18:33.960-07:00Skillet Chicken Broccoli Quinoa with Cheese<br />
A one pot meal! These days a recipe wins extra points if it creates less dishes to clean up after dinner. The leftovers of this were just as great as well. I found the recipe on Pinterest (of course). I actually read through several recipes before finding a Chicken Broccoli Quinoa one that didn't look like a lot of work or contained a bunch of extra stuff (like heavy cream) that I didn't want in my dish. Oh and few weeks ago I reached 1000 followers on Pinterest! Woohoo! So if you aren't following you should ;) there's an easy link on the right-hand side to do so.<br />
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<b>Skillet Chicken Broccoli Quinoa with Cheese {One Pot Meal}</b><br />
from <a href="http://www.cookingclassy.com/2015/05/one-pan-cheesy-chicken-broccoli-and-quinoa/" target="_blank">Cooking Classy</a>, serves 4<br />
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Ingredients:<br />
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- 1 lb chicken breast diced into one inch cubes<br />
- 3/4 cup chopped yellow onion or sweet onion<br />
- 1 Tbsp olive oil<br />
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (or buy the pre-minced jar)<br />
- salt and pepper<br />
- 14.5 oz can low sodium fat free chicken broth<br />
- 1 cup dry quinoa<br />
- 1/4 tsp dry thyme<br />
- 2.5-3 cups chopped fresh broccoli florets<br />
- 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese<br />
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Heat olive oil in a big skillet (big enough for all of these ingredients) over medium-high heat and add onion. Saute 2 minutes then add chicken for additional 2.5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and saute one more minute. Chicken should look cooked on outside at this point. Add broth, quinoa, and thyme and season mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a full boil then cover and reduce heat to simmer for 12 minutes. Quickly lift lid and add broccoli to the top, recover and continue to cook for 8 more minutes (this will basically steam the broccoli) or until broccoli is tender and quinoa is cooked. Sprinkle cheese over top and recover for 1-2 additional minutes until cheese is melted.<br />
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I did take the time to grate the cheddar instead of buying it pre-grated because I like the taste of it that much more. Enjoy!<br />
<b><br /></b>Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-61834414513815116342016-07-06T11:29:00.000-07:002016-07-06T11:29:00.795-07:00Whale Plushy<br />
For this last Christmas, I decided I wanted to make something personal for two of the babies I was doing gifts for. I planned to do one for Dexter too but haven't gotten around to it yet. I swear I do way more crafting/sewing for gifts than for myself/us. Any one else that is crafty do the same thing?<br />
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I found this <a href="http://birchfabrics.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/free-pattern-whale-of-time-plushie-by.html?m=1" target="_blank">tutorial</a> when I was looking for a stuffed animal to make. I wanted something fairly simple and who doesn't love a whale!<br />
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Here is the <a href="http://birchfabrics.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/free-pattern-whale-of-time-plushie-by.html?m=1" target="_blank">tutorial</a> with printable pattern pieces and I followed it step by step. I did the larger size whale and I'm glad I did because some of the curves were a little tricky to sew around and it would have been even harder with a smaller pattern.<br />
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You could add eyes with buttons but I like them without. It takes more stuffing than I thought it would and I used a little corner tool to help push the stuffing into the small areas but you could also use the opposite end of a wooden spoon. This makes a great gift for someone! I would definitely make another one and hopefully I'll get around to it eventually :)<br />
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Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-85040204630524237972016-06-16T18:37:00.001-07:002016-06-16T18:37:27.497-07:00Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Squares<br />
I saw this recipe on somewhere on facebook and saved it (LOVE that fb feature!) so when I needed to make a dessert for Easter supper, it is what first came to mind. Especially because I had every ingredient already on hand except for the oats.<br />
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(note: this is a little plate, not a dinner plate)<br />
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<b>Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Squares</b><br />
serves 16 (but they are very small squares so cut as you see fit), from: SkinnyMs<br />
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Ingredients:<br />
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-1/2 cup smooth natural peanut butter (I used reduced fat)<br />
-1/2 cup virgin coconut oil<br />
-3/4 cup honey or maple syrup<br />
-1/2 tsp vanilla extract<br />
-2 cups rolled old fashioned oats<br />
-1/4 tsp kosher or sea salt<br />
-3/4 tsp cinnamon<br />
-10 oz bag dark chocolate chips (original recipe just said one bag which is confusing... I used the 10 oz and it worked out great)<br />
-2 Tbsp virgin coconut oil<br />
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together first 4 ingredients. Put oats in a food processor and blend until ground into a flour. Mix oat flour with salt and cinnamon. Mix oat mixture into the peanut butter/coconut oil mixture until fully combined. Pour into 8x8 inch baking dish (doesn't need to be greased).<br />
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Melt chocolate with the 2 Tbsp of coconut oil. I used the microwave at 50% power for a minute and did additional 30 second intervals until it almost all melted and I could easily mix it together. Pour on top of the peanut butter later and smooth out. Bake for 18 minutes and cool on stove top.<br />
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Place in fridge to set for at least 2 hours. Store bars in fridge or freezer. Enjoy!<br />
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My husband said these tasted like really good chocolate peanut butter granola bars. These were pretty easy and I'd definitely make them again. If you make them let me know what you think!Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-20523762071497712112016-06-03T18:40:00.001-07:002016-06-03T18:40:22.351-07:00Bright and colorful nursery<br />
I realize I've been a complete blogging slacker. I don't know why I thought I'd have more time for this being a stay at home mom but I definitely have less haha. I can't promise how often I will post but I have some fun posts to share (including this one) that I hope to get around to soon.<br />
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The nursery in our home is probably the most decorated and most complete of all the rooms. I had a vision for it and it came together just like I hoped... this room makes me so happy! I shared the painting of the aqua nursery <a href="http://www.laforcebewithyou.com/2015/03/shades-of-aqua-paint-painting-nursery.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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I didn't want a particular theme in the nursery and wanted it to be bright and colorful and happy. I knew I wanted animals in it but not all themed around one animal. After finding the crib skirt and curtain fabric everything came together to go along nicely with those. The source list for everything I can remember, is at the bottom.<br />
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To the right of the door when you enter is the diaper changing area and dresser with photo collage above it. It is a mix of photos, printables, a mirror and a wooden painted letter. In the corner is a small trash can and the cloth diaper pail<br />
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On the left wall after you enter is the cube organizer that contain toys, books and a few bins. Two of the bins serve as laundry hampers and the other two hold blankets, babywearing wraps and extra wet bags. The door on the right side of the cube shelving is the closet... <a href="http://www.laforcebewithyou.com/2015/04/nursery-closet-redo.html" target="_blank">redo here</a>.<br />
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Two of my favorite things on these shelves are the Hobbes that Dexter confidently points to when you ask him "where's Hobbes?" and the Star Wars print which was the first thing Eric and I bought for baby at a vintage bi-annual market when I was pregnant. It says "Dad, you are my father".</div>
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The opposite wall of the entry door has the crib and glider recliner. I've always loved the vintage look of the jenny lind crib. I spent many many hours in that chair and it was totally worth every penny. Since it is microfiber it cleans easily which is important when you have a reflux baby :) The flashcards and thumbprint frame with thumbprints from people at my showers are two of my favorite part of the nursery. I have always loved the look of hanging flashcards in a nursery and it was the perfect way to have animals without it being too themey.<br />
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The final wall to the right of the crib has two windows and a little side table next to the glider. It was the perfect size for my water and phone and any other essentials while nursing. It was originally pink and my parents painted it yellow for us. My rocking chair and teddy bear from when I was a child are also on this wall. I had planned to add pictures or something on the wall in between the windows but haven't yet.<br />
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Over a year later and I still love this room. Good thing since I go in here many times a day!<br />
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<b>Sources</b><br />
Dresser: Craigslist<br />
Diaper organizer: <a href="http://amzn.to/1UjP0GH" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br />
Changing pad: <a href="http://amzn.to/1sse08a" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br />
Changing pad covers: made by my mom<br />
Dr. Seuss print: free online<br />
Mirror: <a href="http://www.target.com/p/5-piece-round-mirror---black---threshold%E2%84%A2/-/A-14194586" target="_blank">Target</a><br />
Wooden letter: <a href="http://www.craftcuts.com/wood-letters/unpainted-wooden-letters.html" target="_blank">Craft Cuts</a><br />
Robot print: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/transaction/1024677998" target="_blank">etsy</a><br />
1 Samuel print: made by me in photoshop<br />
Frames: Target and HomeGoods<br />
Cubby Shelves: <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50278482/#/80275887" target="_blank">IKEA</a><br />
Gray linen bins: <a href="http://www.target.com/p/linen-storage-bin-dk-gray-chunky-linen/-/A-50253247" target="_blank">Target</a><br />
Alphabet box: HomeGoods<br />
Sunshine canvas: HomeGoods<br />
Ceramic A, Z blocks: made by my mom<br />
Books: various<br />
Clemson piggy bank: Clemson Variety and Frame Shop<br />
Star Wars print: <a href="http://www.sableandgray.com/" target="_blank">Sable and Gray</a><br />
White noise machine: <a href="http://amzn.to/1O86pWd" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br />
Red rocking horse: Lake Norman Antique Mall<br />
Nightlight moon: <a href="http://amzn.to/1TTu1jJ" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br />
Crane truck: <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20294879/" target="_blank">IKEA</a><br />
Shoes: made by my mom, HomeGoods<br />
Little People blocks: consignment sale<br />
Camera monitor: <a href="http://amzn.to/24nEEeq" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br />
Alphabet animal flashcards: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/transaction/1024615169" target="_blank">etsy</a><br />
Crib: <a href="http://amzn.to/1XXrKn2" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br />
Crib sheet: made by my mom and I<br />
Crib skirt: made by my mom and I<br />
Glider recliner: Best Storytime<br />
Side table: HomeGoods, paint color: BM Dalila<br />
Lamp: Goodwill<br />
Cork lamp shade: target, only in store<br />
Gray plush rug: HomeGoodsEmily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-78814753219214264212015-12-18T04:00:00.000-08:002015-12-29T18:41:50.157-08:00BellyMoms nursing shirt review and a giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you are or have ever been a breastfeeding mom you know just how challenging it can be to find nice affordable nursing clothes as I mentioned in my <a href="http://www.laforcebewithyou.com/2015/09/breastfeeding-must-haves.html" target="_blank">breastfeeding post</a>. Most regular tops just do not have the access needed and a lot of nursing wear you will find is tanks which is fine but sometimes you want to wear a short sleeve or long sleeve top and be able to easily nurse. I was recently contacted by <a href="http://www.bellymoms.com/" target="_blank">Belly Moms</a> to do a review of one of their nursing tops and do a nursing cover GIVEAWAY!<br />
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<a href="http://www.bellymoms.com/"><img alt="BellyMoms Maternity and NursingWear" border="0" src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1010/1208/t/23/assets/logo.png?12523422332812247123" height="121" width="320" /></a></div>
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The giveaway details are after the review so don't miss out! I was given <a href="http://www.bellymoms.com/collections/nursing-tops/products/bellymoms-maternity-striped-crossover-top-short-sleeves?variant=8759029699" target="_blank">this</a> top below to try out and give my honest opinion on.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bellymoms.com/products/bellymoms-maternity-striped-crossover-top-short-sleeves" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1010/1208/products/140103110920-0001_1024x1024.jpeg?v=1449984243" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.bellymoms.com/products/bellymoms-maternity-striped-crossover-top-short-sleeves" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluOkRT3rmekSKkuRxhoXBGZWG3AaDtazXTQrvKATRxVl0DEZ1uyZfFMtdpgQgS20W66MTnpKyqK7zegtZOHVL-67tWmZvpvlPDHGQYPH96toak3w9Bi1EAr2jPyDcu2j8UpIsxq8smD0v/s320/IMG_9922-001.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>My review:</b><br />
- The top will go with many different bottoms and pair easily with a cardigan in cooler weather.<br />
- It is really long. On me (5'3) it is basically long enough to be a tunic so I may have to try it with leggings. I definitely prefer long over short as you know it won't ride up bending over to pick up your little one or play on the floor with them.<br />
- It is a little loose in the stomach area but it is supposed to also work as a maternity top as you can see in the website photo so I understand why they needed to make it that way.<br />
- It is very easy to nurse in<br />
- The panel underneath the outer layer pulls up easily to access your nursing. Many other nursing tops have elastic on the panel making access to your nursing bra a little more limited.<br />
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They have a lot of cute nursing and maternity clothes on their site.<br />
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This <a href="http://www.bellymoms.com/collections/nursing-tops/products/bellymoms-maternity-nursing-julia-crossover-top?variant=8758994115" target="_blank">crossover</a> is cute and is currently on sale:<br />
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<a href="http://www.bellymoms.com/products/bellymoms-maternity-nursing-julia-crossover-top" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1010/1208/products/131203144042-0001_1024x1024.JPG?v=1447822686" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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This long sleeved <a href="http://www.bellymoms.com/collections/nursing-tops/products/bellymoms-navy-printed-maternity-nursing-top?variant=8759049155" target="_blank">tunic</a> has a great pattern and who doesn't love wearing comfy leggings with it:<br />
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<a href="http://www.bellymoms.com/collections/nursing-tops/products/bellymoms-navy-printed-maternity-nursing-top" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1010/1208/products/211600-002_1024x1024.JPG?v=1449984227" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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And here is the nursing cover. I don't use a cover much anymore now that Dexter is older because he doesn't tolerate being under them but they were great when he was younger and I always use one when I need to pump in public or in the car.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYJvtcf4MouaSEU7xB5xLEhHzLe-lyFt9aXKPxKfrOJDImCs1rqgTk0oofoP9RtttnSyMhhW5d-HK-_eiGhTaUrjMoJa-aVstzNJ8iTGA18Bl-4n8qDIgn7TheoFW2WDCkzhgT3GqAHQD/s1600/IMG_9932-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYJvtcf4MouaSEU7xB5xLEhHzLe-lyFt9aXKPxKfrOJDImCs1rqgTk0oofoP9RtttnSyMhhW5d-HK-_eiGhTaUrjMoJa-aVstzNJ8iTGA18Bl-4n8qDIgn7TheoFW2WDCkzhgT3GqAHQD/s320/IMG_9932-001.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>The Giveaway! </b><br />
I have a very stylish nursing cover from Belly Moms that I modeled above for one lucky winner! This would be perfect for any expecting mom, new mom or a great gift for either! See the rafflecopter below to enter. The giveaway starts on 12/18.<br />
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="918e0bc61" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20class=%22rcptr%22%20href=%22http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/918e0bc61/%22%20rel=%22nofollow%22%20data-raflid=%22918e0bc61%22%20data-theme=%22classic%22%20data-template=%22%22%20id=%22rcwidget_67mhvrwr%22%3Ea%20Rafflecopter%20giveaway%3C/a%3E%20%3Cscript%20src=%22https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js%22%3E%3C/script%3E" id="rcwidget_zfxxob80" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
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Good luck!<br />
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Update: CONGRATS Lindsay! I will email you next week after the holidays to arrange mailing you the nursing cover! Thanks to all who entered! You can receive 20% off any purchase at bellymoms.com with the coupon code THANKSEmily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-73265277344119474242015-12-14T19:05:00.003-08:002015-12-14T19:05:38.731-08:00Dairy Free Chocolate Cake {Wacky Cake}<br />
So first of all I made a cake from scratch! Say what? Yes this is the first cake I've ever made from scratch and I was really nervous about how it would taste since it has no dairy in it. I haven't been eating dairy for months due to a milk protein intolerance that Dexter is believed to have. It has been really hard not to have dairy... but enough about that and more about this cake. I stumbled upon this recipe when I wanted to make a dessert for my mom's birthday dinner at our house and it seemed to have good reviews but I was still skeptical. Eric was also skeptical because at one point he said "you are using cleaning supplies in our cake?". It uses white vinegar which I also use a lot for cleaning... vinegar is awesome so no worries.<br />
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Eric knew about it not having any dairy it in but I didn't tell my parents until after they were eating it and they could hardly believe it! It was SO delicious! I will definitely make this again even when I am able to eat dairy again because it was just that good and simple. Bonus points for using products that I mostly had on hand and no mixing bowls needed. This is also called Wacky Cake or Crazy Cake which I now totally get!<br />
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<b>Dairy Free Chocolate Cake</b><br />
from: <a href="http://www.sweetlittlebluebird.com/2013/03/tried-true-tuesday-crazy-cake-no-eggs.html" target="_blank">sweetlittlebluebird</a><br />
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Ingredients:<br />
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- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour<br />
- 3 Tbsp cocoa<br />
- 1 cup sugar<br />
- 1 tsp baking soda<br />
- 1/2 tsp salt<br />
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- 1 tsp white vinegar<br />
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract<br />
- 5 Tbsp vegetable oil<br />
- 1 cup water<br />
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix dry ingredients in a greased 8x8 baking pan. Make 3 depressions in the dry ingredients, two smaller and one larger. Pour the vinegar in a small depression, the vanilla in a small depression and the vegetable oil in the larger depression. Pour the water all over the whole cake. Mix well until smooth. Bake for 35 minutes. Top with frosting (recipe below or use your own favorite frosting).<br />
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<b>Dairy Free Frosting</b><br />
from: <a href="http://www.theyummylife.com/Chocolate_Frosting" target="_blank">theyummylife</a><br />
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- 1 cup chocolate chips (use a non dairy type or ones that have less dairy - don't use milk chocolate chips)<br />
- 1/4 cup almond milk<br />
- 2 Tbsp coconut oil (or another oil, just not butter)<br />
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract<br />
- 1 cup powdered sugar<br />
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Place everything except powdered sugar in microwavable bowl. Microwave on high for 30-40 seconds. Remove and whisk until mixture is smooth. Return to microwave for a few more seconds if needed. Add powdered sugar and whisk until smooth. Spread while it is warm.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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<br />Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-5645583339533159062015-11-21T19:02:00.000-08:002015-11-21T19:02:00.702-08:00Vickie's Wedding in Austin<br />
The last weekend in August (yes I'm super behind with posts) we traveled to Austin, Texas for the wedding of one of my college roommates. Eric and I went to Austin a few years ago and had a ton of fun hanging out with Vickie and Kelly and exploring the city they love and it was great to be back for their wedding. This was Dexter's first flight and he did great. We lucked out and the plane wasn't full so we asked for a row just for us to have a little extra room and not have to bother with gate checking the car seat. I was able to nurse him on take-off and Eric wore him in the ergo and he slept most of the flight.<br />
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Upon arrival we didn't need to rent a car since we knew everything was either within walking distance or there would be transportation provided. We took a bus from the airport to downtown that had a stop just a couple blocks from the hotel. The Austin Hilton was very nice and so accommodating... they upgraded us to a suite for free! Maybe they saw we were tired new parents and took pity on us! They had a pack n play delivered to the room and luckily just recently we had transitioned from the rock n play to the crib for sleep... that was a tough transition! We were starving so we walked a couple blocks to this gourmet grocery store type place and got lunch and some snacks for our room.<br />
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Later that afternoon Vickie drove all the bridesmaids (and Eric and Dexter... they pretty much went everywhere I did since I needed to feed him every few hours) to the rehearsal at the Barr Mansion. And we received fun bridesmaid bags filled with goodies. The ceremony would be outside so Dexter got his first real experience with the Texas heat and he was not a fan so I missed most of the instructions while feeding him inside but luckily Eric listened to them for me and took over baby duty as soon as I was done.<br />
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That night we ate delicious tex mex at the rehearsal dinner at the Iron Cactus, in walking distance of the hotel. Poor Dexter did not want to sleep with all that fun going on so Eric had to take him back to the hotel after he ate. It was nice catching up with my Clemson roomies and the families/close friends of the bride and groom.<br />
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Saturday morning we hung around until the other bridesmaids and bride were up and we practiced the dance (more on that later), went to get lunch at the Easy Tiger in our matching bridesmaid attire. Dexter loved having play time with Brooke and Celeste.<br />
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That afternoon we all got ready and headed to the Barr Mansion. Bridal party and mother of the bride and mother of the groom.<br />
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Such a pretty dress!<br />
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Dexter had a very cute wedding outfit that my mom made even though he wouldn't be attending the wedding due to his bedtime being around the time it would start with the time difference. Too bad babies don't understand time difference and time change ;)<br />
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The ceremony was beautiful and ended up not being too hot. Vickie was just beaming the entire time and they looked so happy! (I don't have any photos from the actual ceremony since I was in it and Eric was with Dexter)<br />
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The reception was inside in a building close to the mansion and the rustic decor on wooden tables looked lovely. And the lights outside on the pathway were so pretty.<br />
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Unfortunately Dexter could not stay asleep with the loud band inside the reception so Eric spent most of the reception outside with him so that I could do bridesmaid things and whatnot. He is a super dad!<br />
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There was a surprise for the groom, a coordinated dance in sort of flash mob style choreographed and planned by the bride that started with her and the bridesmaids and then other guests joined in part way through the song. It was set to "She's Country" by Jason Aldean. From someone with a dance background, it was really fun to learn and do... it's been awhile since I've done a choreographed dance and it was a great success! The groom loved it! I will say I'm glad we practiced it in our cowboy boots because it is harder to maneuver in those than other shoes or bare feet. You can see the video someone took here:<br />
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB0poHC5ub4<br />
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There was also a photo booth which is always lots of fun! You didn't see a preview of what the photo would look like as the timer was counting down like most booths so I think that made for some interesting pictures... there are a few I saw from Vic's family that were pretty hilarious. I liked that you had the option to email the photos to yourself to have a digital copy. Who knew Clemson would be #1 in the country... Brooke predicted it!<br />
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The next morning we left for the airport using the bus again and had a good flight home. We had to gate check our car seat this time but Dexter did pretty much the same as the flight there and slept a good bit other than when being fed. I definitely think flying with a newborn or young infant was easier than I thought. It would be more difficult to fly with him now that he likes to move around a lot and isn't sleeping as much during the day.<br />
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All in all a great weekend seeing our friends tie the knot! We wish them many years of happiness!<br />
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Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-9805239772045012842015-11-03T19:06:00.001-08:002015-11-07T04:23:59.646-08:00Blacksburg trip<br />
Every year we try to get together with the Miller family. Tyler is a close childhood friend of Eric and his brother. It is a little harder now that there are 4 kiddos in the mix but we all decided to meet up this at the end of July in Blacksburg. It was around the halfway point for everyone and I was excited because I love seeing college towns and had never been to Blacksburg before. We rented a cabin on VRBO for us all to stay in that was probably a 10 minute drive from the VT campus.<br />
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This was Dexter's first road trip and he did great! He slept the whole way there. Of course he wasn't quite 3 months old yet so sleeping most times he was in the car was his jam back then.<br />
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We arrived on a Thursday late morning and all hung around the cabin. We sent the guys for groceries and let the babies play some. It is so nice to rent a place with a kitchen so you can make your own meals.. this worked out perfectly with everyone being on different feeding and napping schedules and whatnot. Plus it was more relaxing to not try to go out to dinner.<br />
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Friday we drove into the VA Tech campus and after a quick stop at the visitor center for a parking pass, we went to the duck pond. It was a nice park area with ducks and a gazebo.<br />
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We had lunch at Souvlaki's at the suggestion of my friend Lauren who went to VT. It was delicious and casual so they didn't seem to mind that we had 3 infants and a 2 year old in tow. We walked around a little bit after lunch.<br />
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And we just hung out at the cabin and played games and took photos the rest of the day.<br />
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The next morning everyone headed for home after a photo of the guys and the kids.<br />
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We stopped by a blueberry farm nearby hoping to get some fresh blueberries but it was only a you-pick place and they didn't have any for sale already picked. We knew with a newborn that we definitely didn't have time for that especially in the heat so we just headed for home.<br />
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The trip home took forever with a few accidents on the interstate and needing to stop to feed Dexter. FYI there are no good places to grab lunch after leaving the Blacksburg area until you get to Statesville. We held out for Chick-fil-a in Statesville but man we were starving by then! Dexter did pretty well and slept most of the way home.<br />
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We had a great weekend in Blacksburg! It was a cool downtown and next time it would be neat to explore the downtown and campus a little more.Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-62980255325984975222015-10-31T10:34:00.001-07:002015-10-31T10:34:06.263-07:00How to plan and create a gallery wall<br />
I've done a few gallery walls between our last home and this home. My favorite is galleries with photographs! Here is the process I go through when creating any type of gallery wall.<br />
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<b>1. Design with paper:</b> First create your gallery wall using regular paper the sizes of frames you want (or think you want) and tape them up on the wall using painters tape. I tape multiple pieces of paper together to achieve the right size if needed. Then it is easy to rearrange them until they look like you want. Look at it for a few days or a week and keep tweaking if you want. Note: if you don't have all your frames yet add at least 2 inches to the length and width of the photograph/picture size when you cut out a paper. So for an 8x10 you would use a 10x12 paper or larger. I prefer smaller frames for the most part. This also works for plates, mirrors or any other objects in a gallery wall. Just cut paper the same size.<br />
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<i>Also don't be like me and leave the white paper up for 6+ months so that you start thinking it looks totally normal to have paper on your wall. </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZMETXEcdc0GSkbMx3O0UoZHyIp-Fv5oM49sKkYGhQup7ScQ32lqK2i9mvANB3NBfCxSvZILVZOdEOe35lbFRV6N9XhVgdYY2mndDanl9jRY1vgthflccHAmLoKC7juuSUmWo908scWQa/s1600/IMG_4579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZMETXEcdc0GSkbMx3O0UoZHyIp-Fv5oM49sKkYGhQup7ScQ32lqK2i9mvANB3NBfCxSvZILVZOdEOe35lbFRV6N9XhVgdYY2mndDanl9jRY1vgthflccHAmLoKC7juuSUmWo908scWQa/s320/IMG_4579.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>2. Vision with frames: </b>Gather your frames and arrange on the floor in mimicking your wall placement to make sure you still like the look. I didn't have all my photos printed yet at this point especially because I knew I wanted a few from Dexter's newborn photo shoot but having the frame sizes picked actually helped me pick out ones from his session that I wanted in this gallery wall.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gOjZjLCd5BEliduMg4U3K5LNri0MsPJkmFrh3gv79GIJVfyZfATourttI0-Q5eWOgKX8ZtV11unxeffGYlVTcdOHXlXhs2sVGZtDs__95Wz0D5R82Ihico__Jt8Apog3cUmEWBaMjE7S/s1600/IMG_4580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gOjZjLCd5BEliduMg4U3K5LNri0MsPJkmFrh3gv79GIJVfyZfATourttI0-Q5eWOgKX8ZtV11unxeffGYlVTcdOHXlXhs2sVGZtDs__95Wz0D5R82Ihico__Jt8Apog3cUmEWBaMjE7S/s320/IMG_4580.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>3. Measure hanging placement: </b>Measure on the back of each of your frames how far down from the top of the frame the screw needs to be for hanging it. Then make a mark on your papers on the wall to correspond to this measurement. You can put the screw in right through the paper and then tear the paper away after so you are sure to get it in the right spot. Note: the nice thing about a gallery wall like this is that if you are off by a little bit it doesn't matter since nothing has to be lined up just perfect<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYXlokRRMVW1LvXG8GIQaod0LDSQ3u_5AniA6XOQTuTvvHkALS79VVCfSXnDPmCgVYDZh9GTmrcPsEcXPpY2LhhNZdO6jRvbYh-fCrWogF5hA_4cYvi582MKq26SKZU8YLCNzuEimj7Di/s1600/IMG_4583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYXlokRRMVW1LvXG8GIQaod0LDSQ3u_5AniA6XOQTuTvvHkALS79VVCfSXnDPmCgVYDZh9GTmrcPsEcXPpY2LhhNZdO6jRvbYh-fCrWogF5hA_4cYvi582MKq26SKZU8YLCNzuEimj7Di/s320/IMG_4583.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>4. Place on the wall:</b> Hang your frames on the screws you put in the wall.<br />
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Here is the finished product once I had all the photos printed for it and the printable I made printed out at kinkos.<br />
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In case you are interested in what sizes the photos are, here is a guide.<br />
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1. 8x10 landscape<br />
2. 11x14 portrait (photo by <a href="http://www.brittanylaurenphotography.org/" target="_blank">Brittany Lauren Photography</a>)<br />
3. 5x7 landscape<br />
4. 8x10 portrait (photo by <a href="http://www.brittanylaurenphotography.org/" target="_blank">Brittany Lauren Photography</a>)<br />
5. 8x10 portrait (photo by <a href="http://www.brittanylaurenphotography.org/" target="_blank">Brittany Lauren Photography</a>)<br />
6. 8x10 landscape<br />
7. 5x7 portrait (printable I made that says "find joy in the journey")<br />
8. 5x7 portrait<br />
9. 11x14 landscape (photo by <a href="http://www.brittanylaurenphotography.org/" target="_blank">Brittany Lauren Photography</a>)<br />
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I really like how this gallery wall in our family room turned out. I may tweak it over time if I get a new photo that I really want up there. If I do, I think I would move frame #1 up higher and fit another frame in below it, probably a 5x7 size.<br />
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Hope this helps you create beautiful gallery walls in your home!Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-43398389848568580852015-10-09T18:46:00.002-07:002015-10-09T18:46:34.389-07:00Craisin Chickpea and Tomato Salad<br />
I went to a Fall Treats Party last week where a bunch of gals got together and everyone brought a dish and copies of the recipe to share. It was a great idea to do this in earlier in fall since once Thanksgiving and Christmas arrive, people get very busy with parties and events. This is the dish that I brought and it is a delicious side that can (and should) be made ahead of time! My friend Kelley brought it to a cookout at our house and I had to get the recipe from her which originally came from one of her students at UNCC.<br />
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<b>Craisin Chickpea and Tomato Salad</b><br />
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Ingredients:<br />
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- 2 pints cherry or grape tomatoes, rinsed<br />
- 1 can of chickpeas, rinsed<br />
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar<br />
- 3 Tbsp olive oil<br />
- 3 Tbsp honey<br />
- 1/2 tsp salt<br />
- Lemon juice<br />
- Fresh ground pepper<br />
- 3-4 cloves of garlic, minced<br />
- Heaping handful of fresh basil<br />
- 3/4 to 1 cup craisins<br />
- 1/2 cup cashews<br />
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Take a serrated knife and slice tomatoes into thin discs. Note: a serrated knife allows for cleaner cuts when slicing tomatoes. Place in casserole dish or large tupperware (I use a 13 by 9 dish). Add chickpeas. Add balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, salt, a sprinkling of lemon juice and a healthy dose of pepper. Add in garlic and stir mixture well. Now add craisins and cashews. Cut basil into thin strips and add. Stir mixture, cover and place in refrigerator. Allow to marinate for at least half a day but a full day is best.<br />
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A friend said she does not normally like chickpeas because they can be hard and grainy but liked this dish. The chickpeas are soft and nicely flavored due to the marinating. Hope you enjoy!!Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-34501883610114194832015-09-29T17:45:00.003-07:002015-09-29T19:29:28.531-07:00Breastfeeding Must Haves<br />
I want to share what I felt were Must Haves for Breastfeeding. Definitely utilize the lactation consultant in the hospital while you are there to help you hands-on and see if your pediatrician office also has a LC, mine does and it was helpful to go see them after being home a week or so. Especially go if you are having any supply issues as there are many things that can help with that. I hope this is helpful to those of you wanting to breastfeed!<br />
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<b>1. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XV7ORI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000XV7ORI&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=MQ2YDWPTAIBG67IZ" target="_blank">Nursing Bra</a></b> - I have 4 or 5 of these <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XV7ORI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000XV7ORI&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=MQ2YDWPTAIBG67IZ" target="_blank">Bravado Nursing Bras</a> and they are wonderful and very comfortable even to sleep in. They are the only nursing bra I wear. They must be worn by lots of mamas with all the reviews/stars they have. My SIL uses this brand too.<br />
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<b>2. Nursing Pads</b> - you can go with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002TLU5JO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002TLU5JO&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=DYZPDWJY7Y4VMQPF" target="_blank">Disposable Nursing Pads</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007D43X82/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007D43X82&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=BACCT6PZJ6CCBLYR" target="_blank">Reusable Nursing Pads</a> that you wash. It is nice to have the disposable ones early on when you go through multiple pairs a day but I've liked the reusable ones now that I'm down to just one pair a day. And they can just go in with whatever laundry you are doing.<br />
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<b>3. Nursing Pillow</b> - People usually either go with the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TSDMH8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003TSDMH8&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=6MSPL7ZTAP6X2HW3" target="_blank">My Brest Friend Pillow</a> or the Boppy and I like the former because it felt more secure around me and supported the baby easier with 2 humps for baby's head (one for each nursing side). If you get a boppy too don't get rid of it though because it can be great for tummy time or for support when visitors are holding the baby...we have one for those reasons.<br />
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<b>4. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002KGHUL4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002KGHUL4&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=5R7IT2WFFANHTHQT" target="_blank">Gel soothies</a></b> - In the midst of delivering early, I forgot all about these <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002KGHUL4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002KGHUL4&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=5R7IT2WFFANHTHQT" target="_blank">Gel soothies</a> and about 1 week postpartum my SIL reminded me about them and had an extra unopened pair. They were amazing. You keep them in the fridge in between uses. I had 3 pairs of these and used them for about a month or so. You can use them for longer than it says if you wash them and take good care of them.<br />
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<b>5. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006J23VO0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006J23VO0&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=JKF26KSRPPAOU7AM" target="_blank">Vitamin D drops</a></b> - If you are breastfeeding your baby needs vitamin D which is already present in formula as recommended by my lactation consultant and pediatrician. We use these and it is just one drop a day and there is enough in the dropper for a year.<br />
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<b>6. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007CQ726/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0007CQ726&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=2E4M6O6FR5PKMKBO" target="_blank">Nipple cream</a></b> - Breastfeeding causes sore nipples mostly in the beginning when you are trying to get a good latch and may have to unlatch/relatch several times, etc. I didn't like the smell of the lanolin they had in the hospital and I was so glad I had some <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007CQ726/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0007CQ726&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=2E4M6O6FR5PKMKBO" target="_blank">Motherlove nipple cream</a> once we got home. Plus it is all natural! You can also use coconut oil, which is what I use on my pump flanges.<br />
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<b>7. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BUBNZC8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00BUBNZC8&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=3AKFRBH6PGSPUWG4" target="_blank">Nursing cover</a></b> - My mom made me two nursing covers as a gift but if you don't want to <a href="http://www.laforcebewithyou.com/2013/04/diy-nursing-cover.html" target="_blank">DIY</a>, here's one with great reviews. It was nice in the beginning when I was in public and it was hard to get him to latch quickly etc. Nowadays I don't use one much and because he gets hot under there and doesn't seem to like it. I've learned how to be fairly discreet and if people don't want to see it they don't have to look :) The cover is still great if I need to pump in a public place. <br />
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<b>8. Nursing wear</b> - I don't think you have to go crazy with nursing wear but having this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006MJL6ZG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006MJL6ZG&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=YQDIST5T3ZCEVVJA" target="_blank">Undercover Mama</a> tank was nice because I could use it under any shirt and not expose my stomach and back while nursing.. especially nice if it is cool where you are nursing. It's one layer so you don't have another bra in it like a lot of nursing tanks. I have a couple of Target ones but I don't love them... the bra part is tight compared to the rest of the tank. I have a few shirts and a dress from <a href="http://www.milknursingwear.com/" target="_blank">Milk Nursingwear</a> also which make it easy to breastfeed with secretly placed openings. This is really the only way to breastfeed in a dress unless you have a very low v-neck dress and even then you would risk stretching it out. I do wish they had a bigger selection and colors of dresses since a dress used to be such a go-to outfit for me.<br />
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<b>9.* <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00295MQLU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00295MQLU&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=B7ZDTSYZCLAQ3VDV" target="_blank">Hands free pumping bra</a></b> - If you are pumping at all you will want this bra. I wish I had brought it to the hospital with me. When you are exhausted and having to pump round the clock, it is nice to not have to hold the pump parts in place. And it really does adjust for difference sizes.<br />
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<b>10.* <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006XISCNA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006XISCNA&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=Z3CHGUYZLDXFD54N" target="_blank">Milk storage bags</a></b> - Again if you are pumping, you will need a way to store the pumped milk in the freezer. We have not had any issues with these bags and store them in cardboard soda boxes (a <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/135882113733301974/" target="_blank">pinterest </a>idea). They have a double ziplock seal at the top.<br />
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A a few things that you do not need to purchase but are must haves: <b>Water, snacks and above all PATIENCE!</b><br />
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It was frustrating and exhausting the first 3 or 4 weeks when our son didn't have the sucking reflex down due to his early arrival but we kept trying and trying and I kept pumping and we would give him pumped milk. And then he learned what to do and it was SO much easier to just nurse... it felt like forever at the time but looking back now it really wasn't. That being said, there are cases where breastfeeding can't happen, just doesn't work out or the stress is doing more harm that good. While I'm a strong believer in breastfeeding, there is no judgment of other moms that are not. Don't beat yourself up about it if it isn't what is best for your family or circumstances. Everyone has to do what is best for their family.<br />
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*I didn't go into must haves regarding what breast pump or bottles are best because that can really depend on what is available from your insurance (yes, you get a free pump through insurance) and if you want your bottles to also go with the pump and which bottles/nipples your baby prefers. It may be best to get a couple of types of bottles to see what works. I personally have the PISA by Medela and their bottles have worked out for us well so far but I do also have a couple other bottle types to try in the future. I like the option to use the same bottles for pumping and for whenever we feed pumped milk. Even if you are an exclusively nursing, I highly encourage pumping even just a little once a day so you have a freezer stash when you want to have a date night or in case of an emergency. Eric and I have been able to go on a few dates or I can go do something for a few hours and pump in the car when necessary and there is freezer milk for the baby.Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-69094353601310109512015-09-24T19:10:00.001-07:002015-09-24T19:10:55.657-07:00Weekly Pregnancy Photos<br />
In honor of this day last year when we found out we were pregnant, I wanted to share all my weekly pregnancy photos. It seriously does not feel like that was a whole year ago... time just flew by!<br />
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One week after finding out I started doing these weekly (so that's why it starts with 5 weeks pregnant) in the same spot in the room we made into the nursery. Part way through you can see that the wall got some samples on it and changed colors when we <a href="http://www.laforcebewithyou.com/2015/03/shades-of-aqua-paint-painting-nursery.html" target="_blank">painted the nursery aqua</a> in week 27. The aqua even looks totally different in different lighting. You might notice the last two photos are a little different... well I had planned on taking my traditional weekly photo at 35+1 day but I went into labor that day and never got the planned photo so that one will have to do. I had no clue when we took my photo with the Are You My Mother book that I'd have a baby in my arms a week and 2 days later. Also I wanted to at least round it out to an even 36 since I missed some weekly photos with my little boy coming early so I decided I could take a final one at the would-be 36 weeks mark and he could join me! He was just 5 days old then! <br />
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Big thanks to Eric for putting up with taking photos every single week! We just took them all with the phone since that was the easiest. I also had weekly photos taken wearing the same white shirt and black leggings which are neat to look at the difference but I like these since I'm wearing different outfits like some of my cute pregnancy dresses!<br />
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<br />Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-28612478012012043002015-09-18T18:07:00.001-07:002015-09-18T18:07:13.332-07:00Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken and Vegetables<br />
These days anything really easy for dinner gets extra points but when it is this delicious and easy, it's going to become a LaForce home staple. Like I've already made it twice in a 3 week time frame and we were out of town for almost one of those weeks haha. Just don't forget to put the potatoes in like I did the last time I made this... what can I say... mom brain is real.<br />
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<b>Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken and Vegetables</b><br />
serves 4, from <a href="http://damndelicious.net/2015/06/05/slow-cooker-honey-garlic-chicken-and-veggies/" target="_blank">Damn Delicious</a><br />
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Ingredients:<br />
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8 chicken thighs - bone in skin on or boneless skinless<br />
16 oz red potatoes, halved or quartered<br />
16 oz baby carrots<br />
16 oz green beans,stems snapped<br />
<i>Note: these don't have to be exact, if you want to throw in a few more green beans or whatever go for it. this recipe is very flexible I've found. </i><br />
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1/2 cup reduced sodium soy sauce<br />
1/2 cup honey<br />
1/4 cup ketchup<br />
2 cloves garlic, minced<br />
1 tsp dried basil<br />
1/2 tsp dried oregano<br />
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper<br />
1/4 tsp ground black pepper<br />
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Mix together all ingredients below the <i>Note</i> starting with the soy sauce. Pour a little bit of the mixture on the bottom of your crock pot. Add chicken, potatoes, carrots and green beans. Pour rest of sauce mixture over top. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.<br />
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If you use bone-in skin on chicken thighs you can take them out and broil them in the oven for 3-4 minutes skin side up right before serving to crisp up the skin but this is optional. I've used both kinds of chicken thighs and they are both delicious but the crisping up the bone-in skin on chicken is nice if you have the extra time.<br />
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You could add heat to this by upping the amount of crushed red pepper in the sauce.<br />
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Hope you enjoy!<br />
<br />Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-43824024062881970612015-09-11T10:02:00.002-07:002015-09-11T10:02:29.492-07:00My Nautical Baby Shower<br />
I didn't get a chance to post about the awesome family baby shower my sister in law threw in April before munchkin arrived but am so excited to share it with you now! It was nautical themed and the invitations were so adorable with Ahoy It's a Boy on them.<br />
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The decor was top notch! If anyone is throwing a nautical shower, I know some of these things came from etsy. There were fun banners, various ships, a sailor hat and lighthouses that both of us and my mom happened to have for decorating the table that contained the Wishes for Baby cards and the Advice for the Parents-to-be cards. There were also thank you cards that matched the theme where the attendees went ahead and filled in their address - this is something Megan had done for her at one of her showers and it is a real time saver when you have so much going on with a new baby.<br />
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My mom gave Megan the Little People Marina to put out which I played with as a kid. Love all the old Little People stuff.<br />
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This diaper wreath was amazing! It said Baby Munchkin in the center and is from etsy.<br />
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With the wonderful host! She was so sweet to host a baby shower with a 2 month old.<br />
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Now let's talk about the amazing food. First the diaper cake on the food table was adorable. We cloth diaper but I haven't really had to buy any disposables for when we travel, etc. due to diapers from my showers. It was the perfect centerpiece.<br />
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The food was catered by someone that catered one of Megan's showers and it was delicious! Chicken salad, veggies and dip, fruit, spinach artichoke dip and some sort of cheese dip in the hollowed pineapple that was to die for! I could totally go for some of that right now.<br />
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The cookies are from Blue Flour Bakery in Columbia and they are so so good! I first had their cookies at the shower I threw for Megan when her mom brought them. They are a great shower dessert and I prefer cookies over cake.<br />
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With Miss Abby right before we all ate.<br />
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After eating, everyone filled out the Baby Wish cards that I cannot wait to share with Munchkin one day and the Advice for the Parents-to-be. </div>
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Then I opened the gifts. My chair even had a Mom-to-be sign and the mantle was all decorated too with BABY letters Megan made and some onesies and burp cloths y mom made.<br />
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With Eric's mom and my mom</div>
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One of our close family friends was really sweet to come up from FL for the shower.<br />
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As well as my aunt from FL and cousin from Charleston.<br />
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And my sweet niece. She was the flower girl in our wedding and is so grown up now.<br />
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There were cute cookie favors for the guests to take as they left also from Blue Flour. I actually froze two of these for us to enjoy post baby and ate them a couple weeks ago and they were still just as delicious.<br />
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Eric helped out with clean up and packing up the baby loot.<br />
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And of course this little guy dressed up for the party in his nautical wear too at a little over 2 months old!<br />
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<br />Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-90708769293974795332015-09-05T19:03:00.003-07:002015-09-05T19:03:52.150-07:00Pregnancy Must Haves Part 2<div class="p1">
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<i>After my Pregnancy Must Haves post, my friend Katie who had a very different pregnancy (morning sickness with "morning" being all day every day) offered to write a part 2 guest post with her pregnancy must haves. She has 8 great <b>pregnancy must haves</b> and tips below.</i></div>
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<span class="s1">Emily and I had a blast being pregnant at the same time (and it’s even more fun now having babies so close in age!). Pregnancies come in all shapes and sizes; let’s just say mine was quite round and lacked the proverbial “glow”. As Emily mentioned in her post, the list of essentials is different for each situation so I asked her if I could write up a different perspective for all you mommas out there that aren’t even considering turning on a prenatal workout DVD. So here we go…</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Trader Joe’s Organic Ginger Pear White Tea</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">At the first sign of morning sickness I raided my local CVS and bought every Sea-band and ginger product available. Little did I know those very products would make me just as sick as fried chicken. I found some comfort in an afternoon cup of hot tea and this one from Trader Joe’s has a little hint of ginger without the overpowering ginger flavor that sent me straight to the toilet. I don’t think it truly solved any morning sickness problems but it made me feel like I was at least trying and it replaced my typical 3pm coffee break. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Kleenex box</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">I typically keep a box somewhere in the house but during pregnancy this is a must. Hormones are out of whack and the tears related to fear, fatigue and pure joy need something soft and gentle to soak them up. It also came in quite handy post-birth when I had those precious moments in the middle of the night of staring at my perfect creation and realizing “This baby is mine!?!?” (uncontrolled sobbing to ensue).</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Bagels/ Any other form of carb-loaded food</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Clean eating? Fruits and veggies? Say what? I ate a bagel almost every day and was once found eating a mound of mashed potatoes straight from the kitchen aid mixer bowl. I’m not saying I didn’t gain extra weight, but it was survival and if it stayed down then I was down with it!</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Saline nasal spray</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Allergies and colds are tough to fight when pregnant because of medication restrictions but saline nasal spray is the bomb! I am practically addicted to this non-habit forming over-the-counter “medicine”. I kept it on hand to help irrigate my dry nose and clear out stuffed up nasal passages. It also helped prevent those pesky nosebleeds.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Full-sized toothbrush and toothpaste</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">I quickly learned the small travel sized tube of toothpaste wasn’t going to cut it. If you are beyond just nausea and not able to hold in your most recent snack, you will need to freshen your breath multiple times a day so you can smile and interact with co-workers and the pharmacy tech that you will get to know well during this time. I picked up a regular sized toothbrush and toothpaste for my work bag and I don’t think my teeth have ever been so clean.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Stool softener</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Lots of anti-nausea medicine and remedies equals lots of slowed down intestines. Ain’t nobody got time for that! Pop a couple stool softeners each night and the problem is solved.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Favorite Bible Verse</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">In those moments of doubt and exhaustion, cling to the promises of God’s protection and presence. This verse became one of my favorites and was my focus during the drawn out hours of labor (notice my half-smile as I try to walk in between contractions).</span></div>
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<span class="s1">2 Timothy 1:7- For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and of a sound mind. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Modified Expectations</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Like many, I dreamed of a glamorous pregnancy full of nesting, prenatal exercise and floating around with an attractive baby-baking aura. When the morning sickness didn’t let up and my energy was put into just making to work each day I had to come to grips with the realization that my previous expectations were not only silly but truly not necessary. In the end, both baby and I remained completely healthy throughout the pregnancy and now I have more joy and love than I could have ever imagined. Postnatal amnesia is a real thing and I would seriously do it all again. Look at this cutie- how could I think otherwise?</span></div>
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<i>Thanks for the guest post Katie! You are so right that favorite bible verses are so essential in such a changing time in your life. My favorite verse throughout pregnancy (and a verse I lean on often) was Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. And that baby is just adorable!</i></div>
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Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-54617873551224525712015-09-01T05:30:00.000-07:002015-09-01T05:30:02.807-07:00Avocado Mango Salsa<br />
I love anything with Avocado in it so I was excited to try this recipe by Skinnytaste. I made it when we had friends over for dinner and with a little one it was nice to chop up everything except the avocado and mango ahead of time. I doubled the recipe since we had 6 people and leftovers also tasted great the next day as a snack. When I doubled it, I only used 1.5 jalapenos instead of 2 and it was plenty of heat. I also use more avocado than the original recipe and I was really happy with how it turned out!<br />
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<b>Avocado Mango Salsa</b><br />
from <a href="http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/02/avocado-and-mango-salsa.html" target="_blank">Skinnytaste</a>, serves 5<br />
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Ingredients:<br />
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- 1 mango peeled and diced<br />
- 2 avocados, peeled and diced<br />
- 1 plum tomato, diced<br />
- 1 clove garlic, minced<br />
- 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced<br />
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro<br />
- 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice<br />
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion<br />
- 1 Tbsp olive oil<br />
- salt and ground pepper to taste<br />
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Combine all the ingredients and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes prior to serving. Serve with chips or use as a topping to a dish.<br />
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The creaminess of the avocado and mango balance the heat from the jalapeno and the flavor of the red onion nicely! I would definitely make this again. I love all the fresh ingredients it uses!<br />
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<br />Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-41424077150489904852015-08-26T18:53:00.000-07:002015-08-26T18:53:10.023-07:00Pregnancy Must HavesHere my <b><span style="font-size: large;">10 Pregnancy Must Haves</span></b> plus a bonus of 2 nice to haves at the end. I actually really enjoyed being pregnant but these things made the more challenging times and sometimes not-so-fun side effects of pregnancy better! I know most do not feel this way and I was lucky not to ever have morning sickness (or all day every day sickness like a friend of mine had) and just several weeks of nausea so I imagine with morning sickness this list would have a few different must haves... like a toilet nearby at all times haha. Kudos to those who are dealing with/dealt with that. <br />
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<b>1. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005VOOOR0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005VOOOR0&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=65I3FBXH5LMWO72Y" target="_blank">Nature Valley Protein Bars</a></b>- these were such a lifesaver! I would get hungry in the middle of the night and if I didn't eat I would feel nauseous so I would eat one of these. It was just the thing to fill me up and curb the nausea. They are delicious and have 10 grams of protein which is key because you need a TON of protein while pregnant and most bars don't have this much protein for only 190 calories. I eat them now sometimes when I'm hungry in the middle of the night while breastfeeding. Amazon has these for a great deal too.<br />
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<b>2. <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Keebler-Multi-Grain-Club-Crackers-15-oz/10789406" target="_blank">Multi-grain club crackers</a></b>- these were another great snack to help with nausea. You can't go wrong with delicious buttery club crackers but these are multi-grain so even better!<br />
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<b>3. Refillable water bottle</b>- in addition to eating a bunch of protein, pregnant ladies have to consume A LOT of water. Luckily I really like drinking water so this wasn't too difficult of a task but I liked keeping track of how much I was drinking so I made sure I got enough each day. When you drink enough water you can really tell a difference in how you feel, pregnant or not. I have <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EGGQB6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001EGGQB6&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=WCEQQYATFVPQ36YC" target="_blank">this one below</a> but the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M2VPMJ4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00M2VPMJ4&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=3KQCMVT2AUINTXSH%22%3ECamelbak%20Eddy%20Bottle%200.75-Liter/25-Ounce%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=labewiyo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00M2VPMJ4%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">camelbak</a> one looks nice too.<br />
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<b>4. Heating pad</b>- great for the sore back that pregnancy brings especially after being on the go a lot. This <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FGDDI0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FGDDI0&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=SBHKDCTUQL7QNPDP" target="_blank">Sunbeam one</a> was the best size and heated up quickly. I also liked it had multiple heat settings - the low ended up being what I liked.<br />
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<b>5. Prenatal workout dvds</b>- I posted my <a href="http://www.laforcebewithyou.com/2015/01/my-prenatal-workout-videos.html" target="_blank">favorite pregnancy workouts</a> awhile back. Continuing to work out was a must have for me.<br />
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<b>6. Pregnancy book</b>- Many people read What to Expect but at the advice of others, I decided on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1561487171/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1561487171&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=H6OKF76TBMSZWEMC" target="_blank">Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy</a> instead which had all the basic information I needed and was easy to understand without scaring me to death like I've heard WTE can do. Googling symptoms is usually not a good idea and it's better to have a good reference like the Mayo Clinic Guide... step away from Dr. Google. We also read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143122967/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0143122967&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=MYX45AYRYX2G3WYQ" target="_blank">Bringing up Bebe</a> which is a funny French pregnancy/parenting book about an American raising a baby in laid back France.<br />
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<b>7. Leggings</b> - these are a must! Even if you aren't pregnant in winter, they can be great in fall and spring and even summer when you are inside with the A/C going. I had like 5 pairs of maternity leggings. Make sure you find some that are super comfortable! My favorite ones were from <a href="http://www.gap.com/products/maternity-pants-sale.jsp" target="_blank">gap</a> (they were called supersoft leggings - picture below) and I waited until they had a sale. I also had a couple from destination maternity.<br />
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<b>8. Prenatal vitamins</b>- this one is a no-brainer. I used Target brand Up & Up prenatals during my pregnancy and they never made me sick or were hard to swallow. Postpartum I switched to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V865DW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000V865DW&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=K6SNZHJOKXF7XHFZ" target="_blank">Vegan prenatals</a> since they were better for not interacting with another prescription I take.<br />
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<b>9. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FXTJN3S/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00FXTJN3S&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=L6GUMG54YEC5BVUD" target="_blank">Mustela stretch mark cream</a></b> - this stuff was given to me by my sister in law and it was great - not a single stretch mark! It's pricey but I found that a little went a long way and never needed more than one tube the whole time and I even have some leftover. I've also used <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JVA80C/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000JVA80C&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=UWGNBV72QG6PWZOY" target="_blank">Earth Mama Angel Baby Stretch Oil </a>but it does have an earthy smell to it that some people may not like but it's about as natural as you can get.<br />
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<b>10. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CQ7Z4W4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00CQ7Z4W4&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=BQP5AS5HM7DSAHYD" target="_blank">Burts Bees lotion</a></b> - Pregnancy can make your skin dry and when you are pregnant over winter that doesn't help matters. I wanted a paraben free lotion with nothing on the ingredient list that looked like it shouldn't be in something I was slathering on my skin. I never had dry skin when using this and it doesn't have a smell to it which is a plus for anyone sensitive to smells while pregnant.<br />
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Here are two additional items that were helpful but I wouldn't call "must" haves.<br />
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<b>1. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007E62538/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007E62538&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=2UETCDSJNN5CVUV5" target="_blank">Vasaline</a></b> - pregnancy can bring about nose bleeds/bloody nose as you have an increase in your blood volume. I found putting a little bit of this in my nose before bed helped as strange as that seems.<br />
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<b>2. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FOA7C2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FOA7C2&linkCode=as2&tag=labewiyo-20&linkId=NIZOVRFHLOK5BAQ2" target="_blank">Waterproof sheet protector</a></b>- if you are worried about your water breaking while you are sleeping and messing up your mattress or any fluid leaking this is nice to have. It is also good postpartum when you are still bleeding and all that fun stuff.<br />
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Hope this is helpful for anyone looking to enjoy some of the pregnancy side effects a little better. What were some pregnancy must-haves you had that were not on this list?<br />
<br />Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-23753086921524209922015-08-20T18:38:00.002-07:002015-08-20T18:38:59.869-07:00I'm baaaaaaack!<br />
Hello there! I took an unexpected, sudden, and longer than anticipated blogging break after giving birth to munchkin a month early. Since my last post in April at 34 weeks, I'm sure most of you knew or had to assume we had our baby boy by now... otherwise I'd be about 50ish weeks pregnant now and that just doesn't sound fun haha. Thankfully our eager to arrive preemie was healthy and just perfect and we've been loving on him for the past 3.5 months! Sorry for disappearing without notice like that but at least I have a good reason right?!<br />
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Munchkin at 20 days old<br />
(photos by my dear friend <a href="http://www.brittanylaurenphotography.org/home" target="_blank">Brittany Lauren Photography</a>, of course)<br />
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Isn't he just the cutest!<br />
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I've been wanting to get back to blogging for awhile and now I feel I'm in a new normal state. New normal meaning slightly less sleep deprived but also getting more used to less sleep than in the beginning... the struggle is real. There are many posts I planned on writing the month before munchkin was due... my family shower, the nursery reveal, pregnancy must haves, etc. so my hope is to start writing those and have a goal of one post a week. Then I also can't wait to post some things related to parenthood like breastfeeding must haves, baby must haves and whatnot and maybe even munchkin's birth story (I always liked reading people's birth stories). But don't worry, this won't all be baby/parenthood related... I still have recipe and travel and other posts to come.. and maybe even eventually What I Wore again... although most days right now it consists of workout clothes or pajamas or occasionally a knit skirt and a top. Oh and spit up :)<br />
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Glad to get back to blogging and thanks for waiting patiently (hopefully you hadn't all given up on me and this little blog yet) as I adjust to being a new mom! Oh and if there are any posts you would like to see or questions you have just ask away!Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-19440586748309874952015-04-22T18:16:00.001-07:002015-04-22T18:16:11.432-07:0034 weeks<br />
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Here is another bump update since I haven't posted one of them since 31 weeks.<br />
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<b>How far along:</b> 34 weeks<br />
<b>Baby Size:</b> a butternut squash or a cabbage, about 18 inches and over 4 lbs<br />
<b>Weight gain:</b> +18<br />
<b>Maternity clothes:</b> Yep, my Gap super soft maternity leggings have been my favorite for lounging around on the weekend.<br />
<b>Sleep:</b> Not great, getting up usually 4 times a night.<br />
<b>Gender:</b> BOY!<br />
<b>Movement:</b> Yes, all kinds of moving around and big kicks. He gets hiccups usually daily.<br />
<b>Best moment this week:</b> Having our maternity photos done! We had a fun time and I'm so excited to see how they turned out.<br />
<b>Looking forward to:</b> Doing more reading to munchkin. We found an awesome stash of children's books from my childhood and have starting reading some of them. Munchkin liked Strega Nona :)<br />
<b>Food cravings:</b> Not really<br />
<b>Anything making you queasy or sick:</b> Nope<br />
<b>Labor Signs:</b> Nope<br />
<b>What I miss:</b> Feeling more comfortable.<br />
<b>Symptoms:</b> Tired, some back pain and general uncomfortableness (apparently spell check says that's not a word but I think it should be) and occasionally a little ankle swelling.<br />
<b>Nursery:</b> I finished up some flannel swaddle blankets and burp cloths and we finished the changing pad covers - now there are 4 to be able to easily swap out when one gets dirty :)<br />
<b>Belly Button in or out?</b> It's in the neutral zone but it could come out any day now.<br />
<b>Wedding rings on or off?</b> On<br />
<b>Mood:</b> Loving this little guy so so much.<br />
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We are praying our little munchkin continues to grow and stay safe and healthy.Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-45859524600343264912015-04-21T19:02:00.000-07:002015-04-22T11:22:58.105-07:00Oh The Places You'll Go Baby Shower<br />
Last month, my mom and one of my best friends Katie threw me a baby shower here in Charlotte with the theme Oh The Places You'll Go. It was more travel inspired with just a touch of Dr. Seuss which I loved since we really love travelling and seeing new places and hope our little one will too.<br />
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All of the decorations were perfect. My mom has a lot of travel decor (like the hats hanging from the kitchen light fixture) from living in different countries growing up in an army family. And she has lots of Little People travel themed toys like the airplane and bus and such that my sister and I played with as kids. She borrowed the globes and garland from me and made the table cloth and banner. <br />
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She also made this diaper wreath with clip art travel stuff taped to it. She also made a pretend passport for the baby. We are hoping to cloth diaper but of course will always need a few disposables for when we travel and such. She printed the Dr. Seuss quote out and framed it. We are excited to hang it up in the nursery.<br />
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Our little guy has a ton of cute appliqued and handmade onesies and such from the mantle. I'm loving the little hat and leggings with transportation stuff on them. There are a few more Little People toys on the mantle as well as random little toys in the two vases as decor. And a Oh the Places You'll Go Baby book to be read in utero from my sister. We've read it to munchkin several times and he seems to move around a lot and really like it!<br />
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I took these two photos later that night so you could see the window decor and table cloth better because it was hard to capture on camera when it was so bright out.<br />
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When guests arrived they grabbed a bow tie and if someone said the word "baby" you got to take their bow tie so the person with the most won a prize. I lost my bow tie very quickly :)<br />
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All the food was labelled for a different country to go along with the theme... so clever!<br />
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The little food labels were made out of punched out maps and punched out white paper with the words printed on them and are attached to binder clips.<br />
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My friend Elisabeth brought this activity that I was super excited about which I had seen at a friend's shower. Everyone puts their thumbprint on the printable (in the end it will look like a big bunch of balloons) and signs their name in their thumbprint. I can't wait to put this up in the nursery too!<br />
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We played few fun shower games Katie came up with. One was matching the word "baby" in different languages and another was about what different things you have on your smart phone.. some was related to baby or kids and there were other categories like how many contacts you have with a "B". Much better than the measuring tape game or the candy in diaper game that I've heard of played at showers.<br />
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And I opened gifts. Little guy has some super awesome stuff already!<br />
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The wives from the group we usually hang out with.<br />
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Katie and I... can you believe she co-hosted a shower when she was about 37 weeks pregnant. She is amazing!<br />
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Elisabeth and I<br />
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My friend Kelley brought her daughter Olivia who is seriously the best behaved almost 4-year old I've ever seen. She is so adorable too.<br />
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With my mom and sister<br />
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And the hubby... who was great at clean up and packing up :)<br />
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I had such a wonderful shower and munchkin is already so spoiled and loved! Thank you mom and Katie for throwing the shower!Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-14163488581851432632015-04-10T15:21:00.003-07:002015-04-10T15:21:30.199-07:00DIY Food and Drink Label Stands<br />
I first made these food label stands for my sister in laws <a href="http://www.laforcebewithyou.com/2015/01/rubber-duck-baby-shower.html" target="_blank">Duck Baby Shower</a>. I wanted a way to label the different dishes and have those label be up high enough to easily see. All the stands I looked at online were kind of pricey so after some brainstorming with my mom, this is what I ended up with.<br />
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<b>Materials</b><br />
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-wooden pieces that are flat on one side - mine were rounded but you could also use squares or another shape<br />
-wooden dowels<br />
-drill or someone willing to drill holes in the wood pieces for you<br />
-cardstock, scrapbook paper or whatever paper you want your labels made out of<br />
-scissors or punch<br />
-marker or pen<br />
-tape and glue<br />
-twine for decoration (optional)<br />
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Drill a hole in the top of each of your wooden pieces or have someone do this for you. You may also be able to buy some with holes already in them. Make sure the hole is big enough to fit your dowel in and it doesn't need to go all the way through the wood piece (just most of the way) but if it does that's not a big deal.<br />
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Cut your dowels if necessary to the height you prefer. Mine are 12 inches but they can be a tad wobbly on a tablecloth and since I have big labels attached to the top so I think before I use them again I will shorten them by an inch or two.<br />
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Cut out labels or use a punch. I used a circle punch and a scallop punch so I could layer scrapbook paper behind the cardstock to make it more colorful. I cut a bunch of extra white scallops in case those are needed in the future. I glued a scallop cutout to a circle cutout and wrote the food item name on the white scallop. I tried to keep the names somewhat generic so they can be reused for multiple occasions and parties but whenever they cannot be reused, I have the extra white scallops on hand so I can glue a new one over the old one :)<br />
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You will need two labels for each stand so one covers the back and one covers the front. Attach the two labels to the dowel and to each other using little pieces of rolled scotch tape. I found this to be the best thing for attaching and wouldn't be too hard to remove an entire label from a dowel later should you need to. This is also when you can add twine or ribbon or some other decoration if you wish.<br />
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Then you can put your dowels with attached labels into your wood pieces and they are ready to be used! I have 12 of these on hand and they are great for showers, parties, and get togethers. They are great even for sometime simple like labeling which bowl of salsa is mild and which is medium or hot when you have guests over.<br />
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I reused the stands for my friend's <a href="http://www.laforcebewithyou.com/2015/02/cute-as-button-baby-shower.html" target="_blank">Cute As A Button Baby Shower</a> as well. These could also be place settings or have lots of other labeling purposes!<br />
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<br />Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-33315694116150934272015-04-06T18:31:00.001-07:002015-04-06T18:31:14.879-07:00Nursery Closet Redo<br />
After we <a href="http://www.laforcebewithyou.com/2015/03/shades-of-aqua-paint-painting-nursery.html" target="_blank">painted the nursery aqua</a>, my dad went to work on the closet. As you can see in the before photo, this closet is very narrow and having the hanging bar (or bars) at the back waste a lot of space.<br />
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My dad has put in a lot of closet shelving before (like some storage shelves he and Eric did at our last home - <a href="http://www.laforcebewithyou.com/2012/04/closet-redo-with-bracketless-shelves.html" target="_blank">this</a> has more detail about the shelving) and I really like the way the shelves don't use brackets which also get in the way and waste space. The shelves were already painted wood from Lowes and the wood pieces that brace the shelves were painted white by my dad to match. The shelves are about 15 inches apart.<br />
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The four shelves allow for so much storage and easy access. Plus there is space below the shelves to store things too. The rods on the very narrow wall on the right are able to accommodate baby and kids hangers with enough room but it would be a little too narrow for adult size hangers. They are 1 1/2 inch wood left natural and about 38 inches high (bottom rod) and 67 inches high (top rod). We could have painted these white too but that would have been more work and I think they look fine natural.<br />
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This layout definitely makes the best use of the narrow closet space when needed for hanging clothes and storing items. Definitely an awesome upgrade from wire shelves and rod! Thanks dad!Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-17490817699158039112015-04-01T17:28:00.002-07:002015-04-01T17:28:43.930-07:0031 weeks<br />
I can't believe we are down to single digits weeks to go! Yikes!<br />
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I really love this maternity dress I found at a consignment store here called One Hott Mamma! There isn't a huge selection especially in small sizes but I found a few great items for a deal and I believe they are starting to increase their selection as they just recently reopened in late January.<br />
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<br /><b>How far along:</b> 31 weeks<br /><b>Baby Size:</b> a pineapple, over 16 inches and 3 lbs<br /><b>Weight gain:</b> +16.5<br /><b>Maternity clothes:</b> Yes and ready for it to stay warm so I can start wearing some of the short sleeve tops and dresses I have<br /><b>Sleep:</b> Getting up twice a night to pee and occasionally have a harder time falling back asleep especially with munchkin’s hiccups<br /><b>Gender:</b> BOY!<br /><b>Movement:</b> Yes, all kinds of rolling around and big kicks and hiccups<br /><b>Best moment this week:</b> Eric reading munchkin a couple of Dr. Seuss books before bed<br /><b>Looking forward to:</b> Doing some more things for the nursery<br /><b>Food cravings:</b> Nope but enjoyed some delicious guacamole on our date night this past weekend<br /><b>Anything making you queasy or sick:</b> Nope<br /><b>Labor Signs:</b> Nope<br /><b>What I miss:</b> I could really go for a delicious turkey sandwich<br /><b>Symptoms:</b> Some back pain and occasional tightening in the belly in certain spots… he's maneuvering into a certain spot (OB says baby is sticking his butt out haha) and occasional braxton hicks.<br /><b>Nursery:</b> Mom and I finished the curtains! They took a while since there are 2 windows but they look amazing!<br /><b>Belly Button in or out?</b> In only the slightest amount<br /><b>Wedding rings on or off?</b> On<br /><b>Mood:</b> Happy and thankful… it feels like we are in the final stretch and I’m feeling munchkin moving all the time now.Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-24085157384036337452015-03-31T17:12:00.001-07:002015-03-31T17:12:39.291-07:00Sour Cream Noodle Bake<br />
I made this <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/03/sour-cream-noodle-bake/" target="_blank">Pioneer Woman</a> recipe for friends that are new parents. It was listed as a freezer friendly meal which I think can be good if you are bringing someone a meal so they have the flexibility to store it and eat it another time if they wish. It is hearty, cheesy great comfort food so perfect as they are adjusting to their new lives!<br />
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The pictures aren't the prettiest since they were taken before it is baked and dished out due to it being a gift but you can see all the pretty photos <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/03/sour-cream-noodle-bake/" target="_blank">Pioneer Woman</a> took on her site if you want :)<br />
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I read a lot of the comments and some people said it was a bit dry so I made some adjustments (like not layering it like a lasagna) to prevent that.<br />
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<b>Sour Cream Noodle Bake</b><br />
Serves 8 with sides<br />
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- 1 1/4 lbs ground beef<br />
- 15 oz can of tomato sauce and 8 oz can tomato sauce (Note: this is more than the original calls for and even a little more than I used but this is what I would use next time... extra sauce never hurts so go for 2 cans of 15 oz if you want)<br />
- 1/2 tsp salt<br />
- Italian seasoning<br />
- garlic powder<br />
- fresh ground pepper<br />
- 8 oz egg noodles<br />
- 1/2 cup sour cream<br />
- 1 1/4 cup small curd cottage cheese (you could also use ricotta)<br />
- 1 cup grated sharp cheddar (use a block and grate it - tastes much better than pre-grated!)<br />
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees (don't need to do this if you are making to put in the freezer or plan to bake it later)<br />
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Brown beef in large skillet seasoning with Italian seasoning and garlic powder to taste. Drain fat. Add tomato sauce and ground pepper to taste and stir.<br />
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Cook noodles according to package and don't forget to salt the water. Drain and set aside.<br />
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In medium-large bowl combine sour cream and cottage cheese. Add noodles and mix. Add beef mixture and a 1/2 cup of the cheddar cheese. Mix together well. Add more seasonings/spices if you want like red pepper flakes (Eric's favorite add). Pour into casserole dish. The original did not specify but it fit well into a the 9 by 11 inch foil dish I used.<br />
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Now is the point you stop and store it in the freezer or fridge if you will bake it later.<br />
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When you are ready, bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until heated through.<br />
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This would be great with a salad and bread but I gifted it with steamable mixed veggies and bread instead since that is easier to transport and save especially if they may not eat it right away. Don't forget to put a note on top for how to bake it if you are giving it to someone.<br />
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I also want to note that the original recipe says the prep time is 10 minutes. I don't see how that is remotely possible even if you had multiple people helping. The noodles alone take about 10 minutes just to cook not including the time it takes for the water to boil. I do find that many sites seem to underestimate the "prep time"... I guess to make the recipe seem simpler but I'd rather them just be honest :) I'd say the prep for this is more like 35-40 minutes.Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1208185245492827670.post-63737416426827867852015-03-30T09:12:00.005-07:002015-04-10T12:10:57.126-07:00Shades of Aqua Paint - Painting the Nursery<br />
Ever since getting pregnant (well probably before that even), I wanted the nursery to be a light teal or turquoise which you can basically call aqua. Aqua encompasses a lot of different shades and could mean different things to people but in my mind it was a lighter shade of turquoise. We already know how much I love turquoise since that is used in our family room.<br />
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The nursery is downstairs so it is fitting that it doesn't stray far from the turquoise and teal accent colors in the family room. I knew aqua would be calming and bright and fun... all things I wanted for the nursery. The room gets great natural light too.<br />
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If you've read any of the other Shades of (insert paint color here) posts you would be really proud of me that it only took 3 samples to decide on the final color! Big progress from my usual 7-10 samples. Here is how we picked <a href="http://www.laforcebewithyou.com/2013/10/shades-of-gray-paint.html" target="_blank">Light Gray</a> and <a href="http://www.laforcebewithyou.com/2014/04/shades-of-gray-paint-medium-gray.html" target="_blank">Medium Gray</a>.<br />
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I followed our usual paint color choosing process of researching colors online and looking at how they looked in people's rooms and also looking at paint chips. Then I selected a dozen or so paint chips and cut them out and taped them onto white paper and put them up in the room. I looked at them in different light/times of day and on different walls. Since the paper is taped on it is easy to do this.<br />
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Top to bottom and left to right on each paper: Behr Ionic Sky, Behr Spa, Behr Cool Jazz, Behr Glacier Bay, Behr Refreshing Pool, Behr Aqua Spray, Sherwin Williams Aquatint, Sherwin Williams Tame Teal, Valspar Aqua Glow, Valspar Lake Breeze, Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue, Benjamin Moore Sonoma Skies (this one had to be cut out of a book which is why no name is printed on it), Benjamin Moore Lido Green, Benjamin Moore Robin's Nest.<br />
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The two samples I wanted to try first were SW Aquatint and SW Tame Teal. Honestly based on the chips, I thought one of these would be the winner. So we painted samples of these two on the wall and they both looked a little too neon-ish of an aqua to me with the lighting in the room. So it was back to the drawing board. I decided to get a sample of BM Robin's Nest even though the paint chip leaned a little to green for me. I loved the way it looked in several painted rooms I saw online so I decided to try it anyway. Luckily it ended up not looking on the green side when painted on the wall. Just goes to show you that the paint chips don't always give you the best idea of the color. Here are all 3 samples on different walls in different light.<br />
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Robin's Nest didn't look too neon-ish and seemed to be the perfect shade of aqua for the room! So Benjamin Moore Robin's Nest was our clear winner! And Eric was super happy we weren't trying more samples haha.<br />
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We had it mixed by Sherwin Williams (they can match and mix any color... not just their own) because we like their Harmony paint which is no-VOC and has great coverage. And one Sunday afternoon, my parents, husband and I painted the nursery. Even though the paint is no-VOC, I wore a mask too just for extra protection.<br />
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We didn't have to paint all the way to the ceiling since Eric and my dad were going to add crown molding to the top to go with the crown molding we have in the rest of the downstairs. That made it a lot easier to paint since no cutting in at the top was needed. They tackled that project (which neither had done before) a few weeks later and it looks great!<br />
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Eric also replaced a builder light with a light/fan.<br />
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I just love the way the color looks in the room and it makes me happy every time I walk in. I can't wait to make more progress in here... more updates to come! Emily @ LaForce Be With Youhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695764064551379100noreply@blogger.com7