Mexican Hot Chocolate

I doubt this is very authentic.....but it's DELISH....and super cheap....so why not give it a whirl? That's how I was pleasantly surprised. Let me know it you try it!


INGREDIENTS

Hot chocolate (whatever king you normally use)
Cinnamon
Cayenne pepper (ground)



Directions: Make the hot chocolate as usual. Then add a dash of cinnamon and cayenne. Add more to taste.


Verdict: The warmest hot chocolate ever. The warmth of the cinnamon hits at the beginning...and the cayenne leaves the heat on your tongue after you're done. ::Sigh::

Funny pics

Does this remind anyone else of, Mr. Collins's hairstyle in the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice? He always has big chunks of hair randomly sprawled across his forehead.




I think it's SO CUTE when he rubs his eyes when he's tired!

I can explain!

Sorry folks. No pics. Just words. Barely any time to write....but I CAN"T stand staying silent this long.

Disclaimer: 1st, we don't have internet. We don't have any TV channels either. I love not having TV. HATE not having internet. So, whenever I want to use the internet, I have to go to the library, and i have to take Jet with me, and for some odd reason....he is very impatient in the library. Which means I only have time for MANDATORY things, like paying bills etc. I have tried to write posts at home, and then just copy and past them, so I can post them really quick, but I always get an error message.

Now to the fun.

I LOVE BEING A MOM. Have I even been able to say that yet? This is going to sound horrible, but I'm an honest person. I was seriously worried I wouldn't like being a mom. I wanted to like it, I wanted to love it....I even asked Chad before Jet arrived, what if I don't like being a mom? Well....that problem was solved really easy. It rocks.....to the umpteenth power. I love taking care of him, and loving him. He thinks I'm hilarious....major plus.....he loves my singing...not my piano playing.....I made him laugh the other day by taking his little hands, lightly banging (that doesn't make sense) them on his chest, and making tarzan sounds....he loves to watch me do aerobics....I am always getting a heavy bag load of books from the library for us to read together. Well....I like looking at the art and enjoying the creativity of childrens lit...and he tends to squirm by the end of the story, unless I add some type of motions with the story telling. He has just started learning to laugh...and at this point it's more of a gargle. He's is unobjectionally the cutest baby ever! I am allowed to say that....cuz I'm his mom....ha!

What have I been up to?

Reading like a mad woman. I love it. I've read, Sheri Dew books, personal finance and investing books, career books, I'm reading the WHOLE Bible, start to finish...I'm almost done with Numbers, and right now I'm reading books on journal writing.....I just finished a fabulous one called, "A Broom of One's Own." A charming memoir about a jack-of-all-trades sort of woman who cleaned houses for 15 years, and became a writer. It was fun delving into her mind. I miss her already. I just finished the book a few days ago. I also perused one called, "Note to Self: On Keeping a Journal and other Dangerous Pursuits." It was not nearly as sensational as the former. And I'm in the middle of, "Leaving A Trace." This author is seriously fabulous. She impresses me with how she construes words and sentences with such grace. I only hope one day to be as articulate and scintilatting. sp? I have been so inspired about journal writing. What a door-opener to one's mind! I even pulled out my journal I wrote in from age 15-19. I am having-a-ball reminiscing. But I must admit.....this is definitely my favorite time in my life thus far. I love Central Oregon. I love our family.....the dogs on a day by day basis (yikes....what troublemakers). I feel so fortunate to be able to JUST be a mom and wife right now. I love it. I do look forward to a future time when I can pursue my career (I have decided to be a lit. professor....I was planning on teaching highschool lit.....but I think I'd prefer a community college) ....but now is not the time....life has its seasons, and I plan on enjoying them as they come and go....not pining for the past, or longing for the future.

Isn't life just fabulous? Chad has been inspiring me with all these fascinating things he wants to do sometime in his life. Some of them are quite.....fanciful.....but I love it! Well....it's got me thinking.

Wouldn't it be fabulous to swim in the ocean off of Greece...in that sapphire water? What's that city with all the white stucco buildings, and electric blue domed roofs? Santorini? I want to go there, in the summertime, and dip in the ocean. "I should love to go sea bathing!"

Wouldn't it be fabulous to run marathons in tons of different cities? What a unique view you would get of the place....and obviously they map the marathons to pass some of the best parts of the cities (to entice to runners to come). I would LOVE to do that.

I would love to surf on a regular basis, and mountain bike. I would love to go swimming in some sort of body of water (not a pool) every day in the summer!

What do you think would be fabulous?


I realize there are obviously more important things in life....and I'll keep my priorities straight....but "Wouldn't it be nice?" Do you hear that Beach Boys tune tapping at your brain? Love that song. Who wouldn't? Seriously....what a sad sort of person.

Well, I miss you all! I miss keeping track of everyone, and seeing their happy moments. I need the internet. Well.............WANT. Wants and needs.....why can't we have it all sometimes? Ol gol Jess, it's not a tragedy. Sorry...just talking to myself. Love you all!

Photo Shoot...he's so stinkin' cute!

PICS and update

Life has been busy since the last post, and we don’t have the internet.

First, BIG THANKS to all people who have helped us in the past 2 months….from helping us move, to helping with the house when we were too tired, to taking care of Jet, and just being there. I have been the receiver of so much service this past while, that I’m contemplating becoming the “Do-good Fairy,” who goes about doing service all day in an effort to repay all that has been done. It sounds pretty fun actually….maybe I’ll even make a costume…tehe.

The big events of the past 6 weeks
Jet arrived.
Jet didn’t eat very well….which means we didn’t sleep well, but it’s all good
We had to get packed
We went to Chad’s family reunion in Idaho…somehow we fit Chad, his Dad, Hailey, myself, Jet and his carseat, and Dakota all in our Jeep patriot….it’s about the smallest SUV available…good gas mileage for an SUV, but it was a SQUEEZE….especially considering we drove for about 30 hours, there and back.
We moved to LaPine.
Chad had to get a tooth pulled, after being in misery for 3 days
I got mastisis….luckily it wasn’t too extreme of a case
I had to go back to work, 2 weeks after Jet was born….but luckily I was done 2 weeks after that
Unpack….what a job!
Chad: getting curriculum ready for school
Feeding Jet 7-8 times a day, at an hour a pop! He’s gotten much faster, luckily
Eat, sleep, and clean while doing all that…..I’ve come to realize that these things are quite time consuming.


Now we’re here, and loving it. I love that my job is to enjoy taking care of my family every day. That’s my job! SWEET! SO happy! Jet is smiling now….he’s so sweet, and has been getting happier and happier…I can’t stop looking at him. He’s the best part of everyday. Chad and I love this little boy so much. Our favorite times are when we’re all together at the end of the day in our King size bed…Chad, Jet, Dakota, and me….no, we don’t all sleep in the bed, but we like to hangout there at night, and spend some good ol’ family time sharing funning stories from the day.

The slogan for LaPine is, “The outdoors at your backdoor,” and it’s the truth. We live literally around the corner from the State Park….and it’s a beaut! Trails galore, winding river throughout, snow-capped mountains in the distance….I can’t believe that it’s practically in my backyard! I’ve already gone mountain biking a lot. Luckily, the trails are fairly level, because I’m such a novice….I’ve always wanted to mountain bike, but Eugene/Spfld is a running town, not a mountain biking town. The State Park is a perfect learning place for me, because I’m seriously the gal who gets anxious when a badly protruding tree root is around the corner, or an abnormally large pinecone is in the middle of the trail. I’ve already gotten better with handling the bike….I LOVE MY BIKE! And it finally looks like a mountain bike is supposed to….DIRTY!

Gotta go…sorry about the awkward stopping point.

Jet Jay Durfee has arrived!

Here he is! Jet arrived exactly 1 week ago....July 16th, 2009 2:58 pm. Sorry it's taken so long to post, but surely you can understand.

Things are off to a great start, and Chad and I are happier than ever. We didn't know how cute he would be...lol. It has been wonderful spending so much time with our families, and sharing the joys of a newborn baby.

New Stomping Grounds

We're MOVING! In about a month, we'll be in La Pine, Oregon because Chad got a teaching job there. It's about 20 miles south of Bend.

There are some definite pros and cons to this move, but I'm more happy than sad.


Pros:

Chad has a full-time job, and has gotten off to a great start with the administration at the school.

I will be able to focus more on being a mom, instead of working full-time at home, and trying to figure out how to raise a newborn....it was going to be a juggling act I was freaking out about.

La Pine is great for outdoor recreation....which we both LOVE! Mountain biking, hiking, golfing, trail running, and oodles of good stuff.....SCHWEET!

Property and houses are really affordable, and almost all the houses come with an acre of land...which appeals to both of us, and Dakota....we're so happy for her, the little running fanatic.


Cons:

Moving away from family is the big whopper and pink elephant! I was so excited to have family around while we're raising our little boy....mostly because it makes it more fun, because you get to share the joys, and feel connected and all that wonderfulness. BIG BUMMER. Luckily, we're only an hour and 45 minutes away, so it's not too bad. I have actually never moved away from family....so....I'm excited and eeksy at the same time.

It's a small town. This could be a good thing. We'll see how we like it. But, it's still close to Bend, and we're not uber-socialites....so...we'll see.

Moving all our stuff after just having a baby, isn't the best timing, but all we have to do is survive when it comes down to it.

So.....that's the big news. Yah-hee!

He's just about here!

Just an update for everyone to let you know things are going smoothly.

Baby due: July 14th

I have not had one contraction....not even a Braxton Hicks contraction

I can still walk normally.....at least I feel like I can, I don't know if it looks like I can.

Dr. says everything is on schedule, and everything looks good.

It's nice to say, "I'm due in a week," when people ask, "When are you due?" because then they aren't thinking, oh my gosh, she is that big and she's only 7 months!

I think my belly is really weird looking when I take pictures. It's looks fine in the mirror, and when I look down at it, but when I take a picture....it looks like I literally have a basketball under my shirt....it's sticks out so far! It looks like it's going to detach and float away....well...not float away....more like drop with a huge THUD....that's sad....I like the floating scenario better.

I have been sleeping pretty well considering it's pretty much impossible to get comfortable....and when I roll over, I can feel the baby shifting from one side to the other....and it hurts.



EMOTIONALLY

Excited and subtle freaking out. I hope I'm a good mom. I hope I don't dislike being a mom. I know it will be hard, but I know it's right, and I'm really excited for our family. It will be fun to be parents together. People either tell me, "Oh, you're going to have SO MUCH fun," or they say, "Your life is going to change SO MUCH (in a negative tone)." I know both statements are true, but the latter is so dismal. I like my life now, but I know the things that I will have to sacrifice are less important than raising a healthy, happy little tike. It will take some adjusting, but they will be good adjustments. Everything will be fine. Gooz-fraw-baw.


A few weeks ago I was really sick of being pregnant....now I'm kinda past it (at this point, I practically feel like I don't know any different....I know that's sounds exaggerated, but it's how I honestly feel)....but during that time I wrote a letter to my pre-pregnant self to get the emotions out in a fun way. I hope it's somewhat amusing.

A melodramatic, self-indulgent ode to a single-bodied life

Dear body,

What’s it like to roll over in bed, and have it be easy?

What’s it like to lie in the bathtub, and not have your belly get cold because there is no way that its mountainousness could be submerged in the warm water too, unless you overflowed the tub?

What is like to attempt to run for a few yards, and not feel like a clumsy hippo?

Because, I CAN BARELY REMEMBER!!! You see, I have had an extra person inside for quite some time, and I’ve forgotten what it is like to just be me.

What’s it like to not be surprised at your width every time you happen upon your reflection?

What is it like to not feel like Saturn in a dress?

What is like to feel pretty, and not “glowing”? I’m sick of “GLOWING.” What is that anyway? They can’t say you look pretty, cuz you don’t, but you still look reasonably tolerable, so they say you’re “glowing?”

What is it like to just be Jessica, and not be Jessica and baby? This multiple person thing is really tweakin me.

Love, Jessica (in the present)


Well, sorry to talk so much about the pregnancy, but that's the main event in my life these days.

Just Keep Swimming! and Baby bjorn

So....you know on Finding Nemo where Dory keeps singing, Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming? The moral being, just keep going and eventually it will get better, and you'll find Nemo. This has been my mantra for the past.....WHILE. JUST KEEP SWIMMING! It will get smoother....it will get better. I've had the same job for the past 3 years, and go figure it has never been this crazy busy until I'm pregnant, trying to get ready for a baby, and Chad is trying to look for full-time work next year. Sometimes I wish I could turn off my emotions....and be Data from Star Trek....meaning, have no emotions...and yes, I can't believe I made a Star Trek reference....holy dorkus.....but I honestly haven't watched Star Trek in years, since I was about 10...but I still love Patrick Stewart....no one wears bald so well. Anyway.......for now, the plan is....just keep swimming, and we'll be just fine.


QUESTION.....help.....need advice....need expertise regarding baby carrier thingies.

I know I need one of those baby carriers, for my job, and also cuz I like to get out and go places. I know I will use it A LOT! So, I've been looking around, and am totally clueless. Obviously, the Baby Bjorn is famous for being fabulous....but why is it $80 when other carriers that are similar are $30? Is it worth the investment? What about Snugli, or Infantino carriers? Any input would be greatly appreciated!

I will give a better update later.....sorry....don't be hatin'.

Delivering a Baby vs. Running a Marathon

Chad and I have been taking a childbirth class at the hospital for the past few weeks to get prepped on what to expect with labor and delivery. Now that I'm more familiar with the intensity, and length, and overall oh-my-goshness of labor, I must say that I am very confident that if I can push out a baby, I can run a marathon.....NO PROBLEM! In fact, a marathon seems so enjoyable....in comparison that is. Last summer, I set a life goal of running AT LEAST one marathon some time in my life. But now that challenge of running a marathon has been diminished (somewhat), I'm thinking, I want to run one within the next few years.....FOR SURE! I'm not setting any specific dates right now because I want to enjoy the process, and I want to build up my stamina and muscles slowly to decrease chance of injury, and I know I'll need a lot of flexibility with our baby, but I'm so excited! I want to run one ASAP, but I don't want to set myself up for disappointment. So, I'll start with a half-marathon and go from there. So exciting!

And my gift to myself once I can start running again?....beautiful, brand new running shoes, and a nifty gadget that tracks your distance and heartrate. I'll have to take a pic of my current running shoes....Dakota chewed a hole at the toe. Good thing they're getting too worn anyway.

I love running. The other day....I was walking towards this rock-quary spot that I love, and about 1/4 mile away I started seeing all these beautiful light blue butterflies. When I got there, the sun was shining, wild irises were blooming, and dragonflies were buzzing about, their wings reflecting the sun's rays. It was as if I were in a fantasy world. I wish I had a picture to share.

Leave work on a good note

Wow.....Friday has almost never felt so good. Aaaaaaaaah. Wonderful!

Just when I was about to close the office for the weekend, a resident came by. We had recently discussed a payment arrangement for his rent, and I had posted the mandatory 72-hour notice on his door this morning, attaching a post-it repeating the payment arrangement we agreed on. He came to the office with this big grin on his face, saying how grateful he was that I was working with him, and that I didn't have to leave a letter on his door, as if I were so nice to fill out this notice and tape it to his door. I'm thinking....it's not a love letter dude....it's a 72 hour notice.....but if you want to be grateful that you got one, so be it. Fine with me. Talk about a first. Who says thank you when they get a notice telling them they have until X date to move, or we kick you out? Not to mention, he came all the way to the office to thank me, because apparently a mere phone call wouldn't suffice. I mean, ofcourse I'm an angel for not only working with him, but putting this generic form on his door. And that was all he had to say, and he left. This is the same guy who told me 6 months ago that he was being forced by the government to move to Malaysia because of piracy......LOL. And that was the end of work for the week. I'm so glad it ended on such a great note. Sometimes I love looneys. : )

BABY ROOM!

IT's DONE!!! Okay....once I found out I was having a boy, all my ideas for the baby room were out the window. I HAD TONS OF GIRLY ideas....but NO boy ideas. And it took forever to decide on what I wanted. So....after browsing online for far too long, I was still stuck. Then I talked to my sister Nicole (interior designer) about my ideas, and she helped me narrow down what I really wanted, and what I didn't. Which led me to, light blue walls, trees, and animal silhouettes all with orange or kiwi accents. This spring, I was really inspired by the trees, and how their new leaves and blossoms represented birth and newness, like a new baby. Trees also represent family...think, family tree. So, I wanted that in the room. I had finished painting the blue and was going to start painting the tree on the wall when Chad tells me he doesn't like the tree or animal thing. What?! My whole design scheme was based around it! And, being pregnant, and stressed, I started crying when he told me he wanted to paint jets on the walls. What? All my planning and brainstorming is going to be ruined with jets? So....I thought about how to incorporate jets into the room....because.....the idea really started to grow on me. Jets are cool, plus, I love the name, Jett. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that if I did all my original ideas, it would be kinda dorky for a boy room....edging into the feminine territory. Jets are "cooler" than animal silhouettes for a boy....lets face it. So.....here is how it all turned out. And I NEVER GAVE IN ON THE LEBRON JAMES FATHEAD THAT CHAD WANTED.....THANK YOU!

THE BEFORE....sorry, the room is small, and all these pics are taken with the cam on my computer.

Really, the room was a catch-all room before. If something didn't have a place, it went in here. So these pics are really post-clearing-out of the room.






THE AFTER

My tree! I projected the image onto the wall, traced, and painted away. So worth it!




Photo montage....FABULOUS! I love the photos in these....and I just printed them off the internet. The frames were from goodwill and garage sales that I painted white, along with the mats. There are photos of jets, michael jordan, lebron james, blue angels (jets), and some giraffes....all in good taste....not overpowering in the room, but enough to give it a more masculine vibe. I LOVE IT! Almost all of them are silhouettes too....like the original plan. And, the colors go with the room....notice I say go, and not match....because I HATE MATCHY MATCHY>......eeeewwwy ewwwyyy.


Modern night lights....fun!



Chad got me this giraffe for Valentines Day. The cutest! Then I found the baby at a garage sale! No worries, it's clean and no weird odor!





THE ROCKER!

Thank you everyone for your comments....SO HELPFUL! After all the help, I learned what I wanted and didn't....honestly, I had no idea before, and I probably would have gotten a bad one. Anyway....look at this gem! Craiglist! LOVE IT! So comfortable! Chad found it for $40, and my mom and I went to pick it up ASAP before someone else snagged it. I'm so happy...$40, are you kidding? Upholstered rockers are at least $300 new. And that perfect frog blankee....St. Vinnies....score....and again.....clean and no mysterious aromas....yikes!

I HATE THE PHONE

I hate the phone. Let me rephrase. I hate talking to people I don't know, or don't know well on the phone. I love talking to Chad on the phone, family etc....but acquaintances or strangers with extreme accents from help lines.....UGH....hate! (Karen....it's a very nice form of hate : ) ) I feel so awkward....I dread it. I am scared of the phone....seriously....when it comes to having to call people I'm not really close with.

Right now, I'm supposed to call someone I barely know. I should have called them 2 days ago. I DON'T WANT TO DO IT....it's practically a form of torture to me. Darn phone! and I don't mean DARN.....I mean...the borderline bad word. This person is actually quite nice....but I loathe the phone. I hide from it....I completely avoid calls if I don't recognize the number, saying that if it's important, they'll leave a message or call again. About 3/4 of the time when the phone rings I say, "WHAT DO YOU WANT?" in this crabby, masculine, old lady voice before I really answer in a happy tone with, "hello?"

In fact, I am writing this blog right now to avoid calling this person. I fear the phone peeps, it's official....and it's a problem. Did I say how much I LOVE EMAIL? I LOVE EMAIL because it gets me out of talking to people on the phone.

ALRIGHT....I'm going to call this person, and I'm going to hate every second, but then it will be flippin' done.....DARNIT!


Oh, and I did I tell you I just got trained on this new computer program at work, and for the next few months every time I have to input something into the system I have to call my supervisor in Portland and have her watch and critique every key stroke? Yay, can't wait for all that phone time! Just thinking about it has ruined my so-called "vacation" that I'm on....but that's another blog.

Rock and Glide

So....I need some advice.

Chad and I have almost all the big stuff for the baby room, except the rocker or glider. But, I'm not sure which way to go. Target and Wal-Mart sell glider rockers I like with nice padding on the arms and back. But, I think it would be cuter to get a glider, paint it white, and cover the pad in the accent color for the room (orange or kiwi....we'll see) ....but there wouldn't be any padding on the arms, and the padding for the bum and back wouldn't be as thick. So, basically, I like the look of one more, but the other seems more comfortable. I love rockers that look like soft chairs, but those are at least $300.

So, what has everyone else used? Do you even rock or glide that often? Does extra padding everywhere make a big difference? Gliders also seem really thin, are they comfy? Do you recommend getting the ottoman too? Could I just use a stationary chair, or would that be crazy?

Good Mornin' Life

Do you ever just wake-up in THE BEST MOOD? I am having one of those mornings....and it's really just a pretty normal morning, but I'm ridiculously cheery. It's Friday, it's the end of a long week, I feel great, I have people I love and who love me, and it's going to be good weather this weekend! So....I think it all officially started when I woke up, and remembered I had Sweet Life leftovers in the fridge. And yeah, I ate them for breakfast......Moooo ha ha. I always LOVE my oatmeal with fruit, but like I'm going to wait until lunch to eat my Sweet Life goodies....pshaw! I read the paper (browsed really...I love reading the movie reviews on Fridays, but Ebert is SOOOO predictable....oh my gosh, can we get someone new? can he retire? Bore-o-rama!), I read my scriptures in bed, and got ready while listening to my new Celtic Woman music....it's sounds uber-dorky, but it rocks like Adam Lambert! (It's not rock music) When I was putting on "my face", I would get these weird ideas in my head, and laugh out loud cuz I thought they were so funny. And then I'd laugh about laughing at something so dumb. I knew Chad could hear me, and that made me chuckle more. What a psycho! I decided to make myself feel cute today...I love the colors and patterns I'm wearing, and don't you just love the bright green pendant that sets off the whole ensemble? It just adds a little element of surprise. I passed the messy kitchen to get to the office, and I thought, oh good, I get to clean that today. That was not sarcastic. I was happy about cleaning the kitchen. I'm tellin' ya, everything is looking bright today. I'm just so excited about today, and nothing is really going on. (By the why, the title of the blog, if from a song from Return to Me. I LOVE THIS SONG, with the hokey piano accompaniment, and lyrics....it's always my go-to song for happy days...."Good Mornin' Life, Good morning world, How are you skies above? Gee, ain't it great to be alive and in love?" Fabulousness!

Here's me being a goof. "Hi, my name is chubby. My mom is chubby. My dad is chubby, and my cat is chubby.....you know that one?"

And look at those bazoombas! LOL. Hey, I have to enjoy the perks of being prego. Am I naughty? Tehe. Yeah, probably not the best thing to put on the blog....but I thought it was so funny, I'll delete it later.



These pics views on a path near my house. I am in love with this path. Literally, in love. It is a godsend! If we ever move away, one of the saddest parts for me will be losing this path. It's like a best friend. It takes about 3 minutes for me to drive there, and I go running (sometimes biking) on it, practically everyday with Dakota. After work, off we go, with nothing but the ipod and comfortable gear. If I'm having a bad day, I feel better right away. Once I turn on my music and start moving, I let out this big sigh, knowing that for at least an hour, I just get to enjoy nature, a healthy body, and great music. All the weight of the day is put behind me, and I don't think once about it. If I'm having a good day, it makes my day all the more awesome.

I probably pass 1-2 people on cloudy days, and 3-4 people on sunny days. Nice and secluded, but still open enough to feel safe, plus I have Dakota, Ms. Protective. You can get a 10 mile run if you want. But, lately I've been keeping it to 3. I can't wait for the days of longer and faster runs, but 'til then, I'm still loving it. Once I pass the neighborhood after the first mile, then I can start adding dancing into the running...lol....good times. What other path can on you dance on with out feeling like a hippie-freakazoid?

The path is always there, a constant friend waiting for me to visit. Every turn is so familiar. Chad runs on it too, and we both know it so well that all we have to say is, I ran to the gate, or I ran to our picnic spot, or I ran to the telephone pole, and we know how far they went. So many good memories. So many to look forward to.

Belly Pics....CAUTION!

This first photo is for Karen. Here I am, charging the ipod so I can have a SCHWEET run/walk with my doggie after work. It's always among the best parts of my day. My ipod has the weirdest mix of music for working out, but it gets me movin' and groovin', and that's all that matters. We're talking Disney, Opera, Salsa, 80's rock, and oodles of gems.....HEAVEN!

So.....BELLY PICS. I'm at 6 months now. OH MY GOSH. I'm HUGE, people! I didn't think I looked this big in the mirror. The stupid camera had to make me feel like a cow! Seriously....when I look down at my belly during the day, it doesn't seem that big, and sometimes I'll catch my reflexion or shadow, and think, WHAT? I'm not that big! Why am I having such a hard time accepting my belly? I should be proud of it, but for some reason....I don't want people to see it. Why? Well, I don't really have a choice, so either I embrace it with all its glory, or I feel like a heffer. I choose PLAN A! I've never thought a pregnant lady looked bad, they just look pregnant. Pregnant ladies are beautiful! Why am I having such a hard time believing that personally? I think other pregnant ladies are beautiful, but why don't I feel like it? It's not like I'm going to stay like this forever. At least it's not showing in the cheeks yet. Oh dear, who cares? I need to get over it. Who cares, Jessica? It's not a big deal. Moving on.

So, first I took a pic in the white/red dress, and I was shocked by how big the belly looked, and I thought, it's just the dress. So I put on the black one. Yeah, it wasn't the dress. LOL. Okay, now I'm starting to laugh at myself. So, aside from feeling balloonish, things are going great. I feel good. I'm getting good exercise with Dakota, and am enjoying it. I can feel the baby kicking. He's always awake when I'm watching American Idol....interesting. I'm eating really yummy food....as in healthy, yummy food. I got a new cookbook full of healthy recipes. I was so sick of going through my recipe books and having to pass on TONS of recipes because 1 cup of mayo, or 1 stick of butter in one recipe is DISGUSTING! I won't eat that! I love the Food Network, and the food that looks the most appealing to me is from Ellie Krieger's show, Healthy Appetite. It looks so much better than the food with tons of oil and butter and cream. She keeps it light, so you can actually enjoy the ingredients, instead of masking them in fat. I'm having a tough time with the baby room....so....it's kinda non existent as of now. I just don't know what I want it to look like. So, that's that. Lata'

SHS alumni and theater buffs

THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF EPIC PROPORTIONS!


For those of you Springfield High School Alumni, SHS theater alumni, and supporters of education and theater.


Mr. Siegle is officially retiring this year. He is currently directing his last show, the musical "Darn Yankees." He has invited all the SHS theater alumni of the past 25 years to be his guest at the May1st show. Afterwards, there will be noshin' and mingling. If you want to support SHS theater, if you want to say thanks to a man who has given so much time and energy to this theater program, if you had him as a teacher and would like to say farewell, please come. This show is fun and has a great message. Also, SPREAD THE WORD. Tracking down 25 years of SHS theater alumni is no easy feat. If you know someone who might be interested, let them know. The last thing I want to have happen is someone miss out just because they didn't know about it. I'm so excited to see everyone! I've been working as a part time pianist for the show, and can say this current group of performers is amazing! Support these students, support Mr. Siegle, support this program, support the arts, support education! It's gonna be a heck of a good time! Friday, May 1st, curtain is 7:30pm. Springfield High School Auditorium.

Tips and Tricks

First off, I want to thank everyone for their comments from my last blog...I'm so excited to have a boy now....for realzies! In fact, you guys were all so helpful, that I'm glad we're having a boy first! Thank you so much!

So, I'm sure you all have discovered some tricks that you keep the house in order. Well, I thought I'd share mine. I hope that they may be useful to someone. : )

Opening jars: This trick works 100% of the time. So....the stupid lid on your jar won't open....get out some heavy duty hitting object...I like my meat tenderizer...and give the edge of the lid a THWACK!!! This will break the seal, and make it easy to open....you may need to hit it 2-4 times, depending on how big of a "pain-in-the-tush" the lid wants to be. You will never have to ask hubby to open a jar again.....now he can help with more important things....like cleaning!

It's quite energizing!




Clogged drains: I have long hair, and it's staying that way. This leads to clogged shower drains....well, NO MORE. If you have a problem, use Hair-away....it actually dissolves the hair, instead of just pushing it out the drain. To PREVENT the problem, I have invented an amazing contraption....well, I invented it in my head, and then the idea was STOLEN, and I saw it on the store shelf. It lays on top of your drain, like a top hat. It catches all the hair, and let's the water go through. Before my shower, I lay it down, after the shower, empty it and that's it. It's better to prevent than treat. I found mine at Albertson's for $2.00
Rubber bands: This is 10 times better than a rubberband ball. Use a rock climbing hook....I got mine free from the national guard. Keeps all the rubberbands in one place, and it's the easiest access ever!


Tired of credit card offers? Save the fake card they give you, and use them for scrapers. I use these to scrape dried crud off counters, dishes, cabinets....anything. Save your nails! Save time!
You can buy scrapers too, but these are free. I had a pic, it disappeared.

Drink more water. I am always forgetting to drink water, and I know I need to, so this helps Chad and me. If we buy a bottle, I keep it and reuse it for water, and keep it in the fridge. It makes me 10 times more likely to drink water, cuz it's easy, and water that's been chilled in the fridge tastes the best. If I know I'm going to be sitting somewhere for more than 10 minutes....like when I read blogs....I'll take a water bottle with me, and I ALWAYS finish it....not cuz I'm trying to....but it's there, so I keep drinking....it's kinda subconcious.

Stretch your juice. Many people aren't a fan of plain water, but juice is spendy and has high calories...and crystal light is gross to us...so we will fill a water bottle 1/5 juice, 4/5 water. It's a lot like those "Twist" drinks. We like it. Plus, I love those big juice bottles, cuz when they're empty, I'll sanitize them, fill them with water, and put them in the garage for water storage. The plastic is nice and thick.

Keeping herbs fresh: I used to think the best way to keep herbs (like cilantro) fresh, was put the stems in a glass of water, like it's a bouquet of flowers, and pop them in the fridge. That works pretty well, but the best way is to wrap them in paper towel, and put them in a plastic bag. They're keep A LOT longer. This cilantro is 2 weeks old, and looks like I just got it.

So, those are a few things from me.


So, I have been showered with gifts lately, I just had to share....because the stuff is SOOO cute. Chad completely surprised me with yummy goodies from bath and body works...and a bag of Sweet Factory candy....peach penguins, swedish fish....YUM!
My friend Amy and her mom surprised me with this fabulous mug that says sereni-tea, the absence of stress while drinking tea. It's the nicest mug I have, it's thick, has rounded edges, and it stinkin' cute! They also got me the BEST TEA ever! Blackberry and elderflower....they serve it at Ruthie Bee's. $9 a box! They knew I'd never get it for myself, so they got it for me....it smells like flowers and tastes like berries, and has all these subtle flavors at once....this is the only tea Chad likes. And some lavendar soap!


These are some of the clothes Chad's mom got us for the new little tike. I LOVE THE PUMA onesie! And, we got matching socks! Everything is so soft and adorable!



This is the orchid from my mumsie. Orchids make me happy....very happy.....like mangoes. Now my dining room is cheerier than ever!

I've been spoiled....MAJOR! Isn't all so cute? Sorry the pics are weird, I had to use the camera on the laptop...I did my best.