so many choices . . .

how's a girl to choose?

34 weeks

what's YOUR favorite kind of donut?

Bonus points if you know what mine is. :)

Kelly

all photos by Adrian

this morning . . .

started out with a trip to the donut shop!

:)

What did you do today?

Kelly

photo by my chocolate twist donut loving husband

registering

I realized today while watching my iphoto library go by in a slideshow that I had not posted about our trip to register for baby stuff.

Two of our good friends, Renae and Steve are due about six weeks after us. We thought it would be fun to go register together.

We waited until they had their sonogram finding out that they're having a GIRL!

I guess I also have not officially said this on the blog but you've probably figured out by now that we're waiting to be surprised! We have no idea if this sweet baby is a boy or a girl. :)

We had a great time laughing, being silly, looking at stuff and scanning.

Even bellies got scanned. :)

Almost closing time and the mamas needed a rest.

It is truly a blessing to have friends in the same stage of life as you are.

the office

not the tv show . . .

you may or may not be surprised to know that I've never seen even part of an episode.

true . . .

but I did want to show you our new office

After the rearranging, this is what we came up with.

I'm enjoying my decorative locker basket of ivory colored crotchet thread.

Did you know I don't crotchet?

true again . . .

Sweetie sent me home with various lace pieces and crotchet linens on my last trip to their house. I had a lot of fun putting together this wall decor as a backdrop for my desk.

my new pen holder :)

name that movie please

wicker storage baskets from Jenni to hold office supplies

a little chair that I've had since I was a small child that the baby will soon enough be sitting in I imagine

and lovely mittens that I bought at an antique store in Colorado Springs with my mom over Christmas

jar 'o golf balls

I don't golf either . . .

really

Oh, Baby! {baby shower ideas}

Over the last few months I've been reading a new blog.

I was introduced to Cassie's blog by either my friend Tiffany or my friend Renae I think.

It has been fun to realize lots of connections we have and people we both know, etc.

Cassie has been doing a series for a few weeks now on Tuesdays called "Oh Baby!"

It has been wonderful for me to get ideas/advice on what to take to the hospital, which baby products to register for, etc.

Each week she has a Mcklinky set up so that other people can link to their posts about the topic. I decided to do a post for this week's topic, baby showers.

Also, I have a question I'd love for you to answer in the comments if you don't mind. I have three baby showers coming up (what a huge blessing to us and a sweet, sweet gesture by many friends!) and I want to have great hostess gifts for my shower hostesses. Any ideas? And if you are one of those hostesses, maybe just don't read the comments today, 'kay? :)

There are quite a few couples at our church who have just recently had or are having babies very soon!

Recently I helped to hostess a baby shower for a sweet baby boy on the way. :)

I am not super happy with the way the pictures turned out from that day but they will give you an idea at least.

We knew they were going with a sports theme for the nursery so we did an "all-star baby" theme for the shower.

We decided to have a "cookie bar" for the Sunday afternoon refreshments. Each hostess made cookies to contribute. There were lots of yummy kinds including magic cookie bars, different variations on chocolate chip, pumpkin chocolate chip and praline cookies.

I got the idea for using ribbon spools as pedestals here. If you don't already know this blog I think you'll thank me for introducing you! It's a great one!

We wrapped water bottles in color coordinated papers that had been stamped with a "B".

(for baby, boy and the baby's first initial)

close up of the praline cookies on a polka dotted plate (from Target several years ago)

The rest of the photos aren't from actual baby showers but are photos I had in my library that made me think "baby shower".

First, fresh flowers . . .

These photos were taken in Alaska last summer at my friend Betty's house. Speaking of Betty, you have *got* to check out her amazing baby shower cake! She gives a GREAT tutorial.

These next photos are from a wedding shower at my friend Lindsey's house. She always does an amazing job with events. I think this chocolate fondue with the mini krispy kremes and all the other yummy things to dip would be great at a baby shower as well.

And finally, the rest of these photos are from my grandma, Sweetie's, 80th birthday party last year! When I think baby showers though I just automatically associate them with spring although they of course, can and do happen anytime of year so I just thought these photos might also provide good baby shower inspiration.

Cassie, thanks for hosting this fun series!

Be sure to check out her blog for other participants today and each Tuesday and also feel free to link up yourself if you like.

Kelly

p.s. don't forget to give me your ideas for great hostess gifts! :)

Thanks!

warm winter dinner

Collard greens with corn dumplings and toasted homemade bread

yummy

warm

and full of calcium good for growing this sweet baby's developing bones

out of the oven

The recipe I used for the Valentine muffins is from Family Fun.

For what I was using them for, I was afraid they were going to be too messy with the gooey chocolate or jam centers so I decided to make half the batch plain strawberry and half the batch with chocolate chips added to the batter.

I also wanted them to be festive but decided to just use what I had rather than going out and buying something.

See that . . . ?

yep, scotch tape, a plain ole toothpick and pink paper cut into the shape of a heart with plain old scissors

easy as pie . . .

or muffins . . .

I also had a package of these really fun sparkly appetizer picks from the dollar spot at Target (who doesn't love that place?) They were red and green for Christmas and I've had them for at least one Christmas, maybe two and they haven't been used so I decided to use all of the red ones today and maybe I'll have to make St. Patrick's Day cupcakes or something to use the green ones. Who knows.

The chocolate chip strawberry muffins.

Happy Valentine's Day . . . again.

Kelly

baking Valentine's muffins . . .

using the muffin tin liners that we found in bulk yesterday at the restaurant supply!

500 for $1.95!

Who knew such bargains existed?

:)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Kelly

tomorrow is Valentine's Day!

I love Valentine's Day!

even when I was single, I really did

This is our last Valentine's just the two of us.

Before we have a little love bug to share it with.

I have heard fun things friends and family members are doing to celebrate Valentine's Day with their kiddos this year, like getting a heart shaped Papa Murphy's pizza and ice cream cake, finger print heart Valentine's cards, simple hearts tied to lollipops, etc., etc.

So fun to think about the future while enjoying the gift of the present.

If you have kiddos, what are you doing to celebrate Valentine's?

Kelly

p.s. If your Valentine's doesn't really look like you would like it to this year, I pray that God will give you the peace and assurance of His love to enjoy the gift of the present while waiting for the dreams your heart desires. His timing is perfect. I don't always understand it but it is perfect.

If you're up for more photos, the rest of the Valentine's decor: