Blog Hoppin'

No new content today, but ventured over to visit my pal Megan at A little bit of this and that and decided to join the blog hop.  Read on pals!

I'm also claiming my blog on blog lovin' so when we start live in our sans Google Reader world come July {GASP!} I'll still be accessible.  Bout time right!? Geeze, I know. Sorrrrrry :)

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It's almost the weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekend! Woohooo!!!

peanut butterless

It just became a sad, sad Wednesday my friends.  Three weeks ago I brought a fresh jar of peanut butter to accompany me at my desk to help me combat mid day hunger, keep my sweet tooth at bay, to give my morning banana a little something special, and if I'm really being honest - mainly because I'm pregnant and have been craving peanut butter like it's going out of style and enjoy eating monster spoonfuls of it for no good reason {THERE I SAID IT!}.  

To be clear, there is only 1 kind of peanut butter I like: JIF | CREAMY | REDUCED FAT. Otherwise, I am sad.  But, I wanted to share with all of you ... today, Wednesday, April 24th at exactly 2:45 pm the unthinkable happened.

We've reached the bottom of the tub, and I AM HEART BROKEN.  How did I not see this coming?!  I could have had a spare ready, I could have grabbed some at lunch, I could have brought different snacks to work to cope. But no, nothing. I am now stuck at my desk with nothing but an old package of saltine crackers and water.  Cue my first set of "food pregnancy tears" beginning NOW.

Exactly Bill, exactly. "If you can't control your peanut butter, you can't expect to control your life." So, there it goes. I've lost all control.  I'm blogging about peanut butter, I may or may not have shed a real tear when I at the last bite .. this is what my life has come to.  Way too pregnant and not enough peanut butter. GASP!  

Meanwhile, I imagine little man in my belly just swimming around in an endless supply of my daily consumption. Oh Baby U, how jealous I am of your endless PB tasting.  Can't you just picture him?  All smiles and licking delicious peanut butter off his fat little fingers. 

Alas,  I will try and make it through the last few hours of my day, peanut butterless.  Please no one come visit me ... because I'm in a sad state and you may or may not find me under my desk -- resembling the following picture -- poor pup. I feel your pain.

Recipe Monday: Buffalo Chicken Pasta

It's a beautiful Monday in the bluegrass state, I had a FABULOUS weekend, I was horrifically lazy yesterday, and caught up on my Zzz's last night. Whew buddy, if it wasn't for this basketball in my belly I'd be hopping around like a young spring chicken!

While I'm working on blog posts about this weekend, and the previous one {teaser: baby showers and a name reveal included}, I thought I'd leave you today with one of my favorite dishes served at this weekend's shower.  My pal Baili ... more on her and her favorite things here ... made this dish at a little get together at her apartment on St. Patty's day and I fell in LOVE.  So, naturally I asked that she please make it for my baby shower :) 

I forgot to snap a pic of the dish before we devoured the deliciousness, but I conveniently remembered after the second serving had been polished off (below). So, I googled a picture of it (above) to make it a bit more appealing, to encourage you to read further (right picture). You won't regret it, I PROMISE.

This is the PERFECT change up for game day tailgates or parties in lieu of buffalo chicken dip.  And BONUS - it's served chilled (but you could eat it hot if you prefer) so it works for all facets.

Buffalo Chicken Pasta

Ingredients:

• 1 box of bow tie noodles
• 5 stalks of celery (Baili buys pre-chopped from the salad bar at the grocery - about a full container)
• 1/2 red onion (Baili buys pre-chopped from the salad bar at the grocery - about a 2/3 full container)
• 1 rotisserie chicken - shredded
• 3/4 bottle of ranch (or you could use blue cheese if that's you're thing)
• 3/4 bottle of Tabasco buffalo sauce

Directions:

• Prepare noodles as usual
• When draining the water, pour cold water over your noodles to cool them down and stop from cooking
• Shred the chicken, and cut up both the onion and celery
• Put all ingredients a big bowl and mix together - or use your hands :)
• Serve chilled immediately - or day after

Indulge until your little heart is content! Have a great week.

Little Treasures

A few weeks back my sweet Sister-In-Law, Jessica, called me with a VIP pass to the 'Little Treasures Kids Sale'.  I had heard her and my Mother-In-Law rave about the sale for many seasons before, as they made sure to hit it up twice a year for her kiddos.  I had never been and had absolutely no idea what to expect, but I was excited because I had heard so many great things. 

Before I headed there that evening, I googled the sale to learn more about it. WOAH! How cool.  Let me dish some deetz for those of you who haven't heard of it:

• Mother-daughter duo Janice Seymour and Kelly Brown started Little Treasures in a small garage with 8 consignors in September 2001. Since that time the sale has added seasonal events in Florence, KY, and New Albany, IN. Thousands participate from all over Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and Mississippi.
• It's a semi-annual kid’s consignment sale that promises name brands like Ralph Lauren, Gap, Gymboree & more! Specializing in new and gently used kid’s clothing (sizes newborn – juniors), shoes, toys, books, furniture, equipment, fashionable maternity clothes and handmade gifts.
• Consignors receive 70% of the sale proceeds less a $15 registration fee. You set the price, they sell it for you. 
• Volunteer to help for a four-hour work shift and you’ll shop first. Special incentives are offered to consignors to increase their earning potential – the more you participate, the more you make!
• They advise you bring a laundry basket or something to put all of your goodies into, and they are correct - this made shopping MUCH easier.

So essentially, it's a great place to buy and sell your kiddo's stuff.  Now, I was a little skeptical, because I'm not a huge consignment shopper myself.  But, I decided to give it a go.  Ya'll I was OVERWHELMED. 

SO.

MUCH.

STUFF!

Literally, SO MUCH STUFF. Everything from clothes, to toys, to strollers, to beds,to you name it baby or toddler stuff and it's there.  And it is CHEAP!  I tried to coax my mom into going with me (and she so wanted to) but she was heading out of town, so I forced hubs to tag along.  He was a good sport :) and even picked out some cute outfits for his little gentleman (I think Shane's exact words when he found this little number were, "AHA! He can dress just like me!")

This is still our first little tyke, so we're still all wrapped up in the "new" hoopla of it all.  New clothes, new accessories, new toys .. blah blah.  But man, does this stuff add up quick! And it ain't cheap.  So I can totally see after you've got more than one little nugget running around that a sale like this is your heaven. We walked away with several outfits and adorable little numbers for the newest member of our clan.  Here were some of our favorites:

Swim trunks.  Lil' man will be here in time for the 4th of July, so we're over prepared. MURRRICA! Both trunks were a whopping $3.00

Stinkin' adorable plaid shirt and matching khaki pants. If this doesn't scream Little Gentleman, I don't know what does. Entire outfit - $5.50

Complete baseball ensemble.  I have a strong feeling that my dad (PaPaw) will be taking him to his first Cincinnati Reds game, so no worries - he'll be suited up and ready to go. $5.00 for the shorts, jersey, shoes and hat. Amaze.

Baby sweatpants!  These were a hubs "must purchase list".  He was utterly amazed they made baby sweatpants.  And when he found them ... he rolled with laughter and started telling me stories of how he and Baby U will sit on the couch (no shirt) only sweatpants watching ball.  :0) - $4.00 for both pair.

And last but certainly not least ... what could be a possible front runner for Baby U's first ever Halloween costume ... A BABY SAILOR OUTFIT! I die. Literally. Dead. - $7.00 - SEVEN DOLLARS!

And just so ya'll don't think I'm crazy.  I snapped a picture of a couple of the price tags before I trashed em so you'd believe me...

And there you have it, real life Little Treasures for our Little Gentleman.  For all you mama's in the TN, KY, IN, OH area - I highly suggest you check it out. And a bigggg shout out to Jess for hooking me up with the VIP pass, so I was able to shop the pre-sale before it opened up to the public!  Yeeehaw. Love great deals!