KAYE | ELEVEN MONTHS

Monday, September 30, 2013

while most normal people may think that one month is plenty of time to plan a birthday party...i've been daydreaming about our turtle's spook-bash for over six months now.

if my farmer would have let me...we would have celebrated her six month birthday and nine month birthday.

but for now...she's 11 months old and we'll settle for some milestones:

1. we have a runner on our hands. she's been walking for over a month and a a half now and the head injuries have finally subsided. so as she gains confidence she's been speeding up.



this turns into her new most favorite game called, "shadow." i have a shadow when i get dressed. i have a shadow when i go to the bathroom. i have a shadow when i'm picking up toys.

i'm waiting for the moment when we can make this shadow thing beneficial. like maybe she can carry a broom or duster around?

2. girlfriend is now feeding herself. i'll load her little fork up with food and set it in front of her and she'll pick it right up and aggressively shove it in her mouth. she's always been an enthusiastic eater, but now that we have a sharp object in the mix i anxiously watch every bite. so far, no injuries. she has great aim and hits the majority of her mouth-hole every time.





3. pointing - when i was a little girl i remember being told that pointing was rude. well...i have one rude, little chica on my hands. she points at everything. books, toys, dadadada, tv, coffee, dogs, etc. this always means she wants us to interact with said object in some way. this is nice, because now we know what she wants instead of her whining and us playing the guessing game.

4. speaking of whining. we have the whiniest little gal this side of...the universe. i remember my farmer's mom saying that farmer was quite the whiney little guy and i can safely say our little gal is cut from the same cloth.

this whininess reared its ugly head when i went to dinner at a friend's house. a friend who is pretty "up in the air" about whether or not she wants kids. so as kaye was throwing epic fits (the worst i've ever seen) i could see my friend's decision confirming.

then kaye decided to throw some more tantrums/non-stop whining when my sister and her husband came for a visit.

when kaye's whining/tantrums ceased as soon as they left i've deduced that she doesn't enjoy sharing my attention. we have one spoiled farmer-gal on our hands. whoops.

5. kaye also loves loves to bring us things. it started with books. it was the cutest. she would hand us a book, we would pick her up, read 1.5 pages and then she would wiggle until we put her down. then she would go grab another book.

it has now progressed to her bringing me random objects: dad's dirty shoes, a whisk, mini pumpkin, chair cushion...i'm waiting for her to bring me a mouse trap or a dead fly.

that's a shoe in her hand.
6. and quite possibly the cutest thing? she is now obsessed with giving herself kisses in the mirror. all we have to say is, "give that cute baby a kiss!" she quickly slobbers up the mirror with complete satisfaction.





oh turtle...you're such a little turtle. it's your lips. when you snap them together and walk around like a little penguin...your dad and i just laugh at you (or with you) because you're the cutest little snapping turtle we've ever seen.

speaking of your dad. you loooooove him so much and get super sad whenever he starts putting his boots on.

what don't you love? you don't love hats or headbands. but don't you realize what a cute hat or a little headpiece can do for a gal's outfit? get with the program. you have one year pictures in a few days and you will be wearing both.

nicknames: turtle, turtley mcturtle toots, sweets, girlfriend, sis, baby, sweety-bear...but mostly i call you turtle.

favorite food: bean-wa bowl. i found a recipe on TGITRS blog that she makes for her little man and so i snapped up this super easy recipe for kaye. girlfriend LOVES it. and i love it too. i guess if you mix anything with cheese and sour cream it's probably going to be a win.

likes: still in love with that pink blanket. she sleeps with it every nap and at night. it also goes on all car and stroller rides. tractors are also her top pick for toys.



dislikes: diaper changes, not having my undivided attention, mac n' cheese

oh girlfriend, thank you so much for putting a smile on my face every single day. you are funny, busy, adventurous, curious, and lovable. i can't get enough of you...most of the time. (actually, sometimes it's nice to have a little break from you...let's be honest.)

i love when you growl at me, then i growl back, then you growl...we go on and on and on. if someone were to peak in on our play-time they may think we're a little crazy. especially when you growl with a full body-jerk. you're a little weird.

we have a few things to work on though.

first order of business: stop biting me. we have one month of nursing left to go and then i'm done-zo. so let's make these last four weeks a positive experience yes?

wudduya say you start enjoying the stroller again? the weather is cooling off so it's time to get back outside for some jogging. i need you to relax just a little so we can get 30 minutes of fall-fresh air. mmmmk?

the whining. we've already discussed this. stop it.




five little things

Friday, September 27, 2013
i'ma gonna make a commitment to this weekend. i've picked five fantastic pins and this will be my five on friday.

consider me held accountable.

1. this ruffle frosting tutorial. i have to make kaye's smash cake for her little 1 year photo sesh...so we'll see if i can get this to turn out well enough to be photographed at a distance.

tutorial found here

2. the crockpot is going to get busy. i made this once last year and it was real REAL good. the weather has been super chilly and rainy and is begging for this soup. farmer is going to get some warm meals this weekend.

find recipe here
3. working out. i have to change it up. all i do is get on the treadmill three times a week and run four miles. that got lame about four months ago. i'm going to try this a few times and see how it treats me.

i found this chica's website ages ago and just now read through it. she has some nice little workouts on there.

workouts
4. it's time i pick up some steam with kaye's birthday party decor. i was cookin' right along and then i got the new laptop and my life stopped. pathetic? no.

so i'm going to craft up some birthday banners for my little turtle.

banner inspiration found here 
5. with all that running and curcuit workouts i should probably make something fall-ish and glorious and sweet and yum. i've had this guy pinned for awhile. the time is now.

find recipe here

it's going to be a busy weekend, but a lot that has nothing to do with house projects are going to get done. i'm already dreading/excited to get after it.

linkin' up.


meet mrs. laura beth

Thursday, September 26, 2013
earlier this month i ran a snazzy giveaway on ze blog for louloumade. (if you like nursery bedding and all that jazz...check it.) well...this fine gal won the giveaway and an ad spot/featured post on my blog! 

the best part? she's married to a farmer too! apparently farmer's wives and blogging go hand in hand.

meet mrs. laura beth!



Q: What is your favorite thing about blogging? 
A:: I feel like people always answer this questions the same - The Relationships you make. So at the chance of sounding like a broken record, I'll change it up. One of my favorite things is the feedback from my {real life} Family & Friends. I love hearing from my Mom that she loved my post about her, that I brought tears to my Sister's eyes {in a good way}, that my Dad is proud of me. I blog for Me but it is a really nice 'feel good' thing to know others are enjoying it too. 

Q: What attracted you to your husband?
A:: Oh those blue eyes of his just make me melt and on top of that he was {still is} a complete gentleman. I couldn't resist him!


Q: What are some of your hobbies?
A:: Photography, Reading, Drinking Wine, Lounging at the Lake, Napping {if that can be considered}, Hanging out with Loved Ones.

Q: What is one piece of marriage advice you have?
A:: These aren't my words but it is some of my favorite advice that actually came from a Bonnie Mohr 'I Do' print we received from my parents for our wedding. The whole verse is amazing but this is one of my favorite parts: "Stand together, but let there be space in your togetherness." 
Just because you are married or in a relationship does not mean you have to lose who you were before you met that person. My husband and I compliment each other very well, we are great together and after {almost} 7 years of being together we still know who we are as individuals and that is something I think is very important.  



Q: What is something not many people know about you?
A:: I need to have something to hug when I sleep.  Pretty sure it is a comfort thing {I know, it sounds really strange} but I fall asleep so much better when I have something to hug. 

Q: What do you love doing?
A:: Photography. I Love capturing moments, true smiles, raw emotion. I don't consider myself a professional {because, let's face it, those people are amazing} but I love to take it a little further than a hobby, especially in this day & age when everyone is claiming to be a 'photographer'. 




Q: What is something you feel strongly about or have a passion for?
A:: I have a passion for small town living. I feel small towns and our way of life is misconceived by a lot of people who have never experienced it. We are not hicks, we are farmers who live in the country {there is a difference}. My husband, dad, brother-in-law, father-in-law, neighbors, best friends and community members all help to grow the crops and raise the animals that provide food on the plates of Americans all around. Food For Thought: The average Farmer feeds around 155 people - Who are you going to thank for your next meal?!

Q: Is this how you imagined your life to be?
A:: Probably Not, but I'm still {as Gary Allan would say} Right Where I Need To Be. Of course there are little things I would change if I could but they are more cosmetic and just that 'things'. I'm blessed with my faith, an amazing husband, family, and great friends. I'm living in the wide open spaces of God's Country and I couldn't ask for a better life if I dreamt it up myself.




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that one day when i waxed myself...no seriously.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013


believe it or not, i've been told i don't write enough blog posts.

i have fans people. like...very popular.

or not so much. anyway...

as i was pondering what i could POSSIBLY blog about i was stumped.

i don't cook. i don't garden. i don't craft...what's a girl to do?

and then i thought...i am pretty crazy. why not blog about that one time i waxed myself?

i'm not going to tell you too many details. nor am i going to share any pictures.

you're welcome.

but please know that there are a few rules you should abide by:

1. for the love of god please ensure the wax is just the right temperature. nobody likes second degree burns on their who-ha.

2. pre-cut your strips of fabric. there is nothing more unsightly than having your wax applied, one leg propped on the counter and a crazy pair of scissors waxed to your hand.

3. apply the wax in the direction of the hair. enough said.

4. quicker is better. once the wax is applied, get that strip of fabric on there and give it three firm rubs to ensure you have good connection. then...with no hesitation and a good grip...rip it off in one smooth action. do not pause halfway through.

5. watch a single tear drip down your cheek to the countertop below.

5. have no expectations. if you're picturing yourself looking like you've just left a professional...think again. you'll start with a rough draft, revise two or three times and you'll still finish disappointed, sweaty, and bruised. seriously...i bruised.

6. go to a professional. i've already made my appointment in le big city.

what is friday?

Friday, September 20, 2013
never did i think i would sooo NOT appreciate fridays.

you see...when you're married to a farmer you might get a random day off during the week, but rarely can you count on a friday to bring in the weekend.

unless it's winter...and then all bets are off...it's party time. hold that thought...we have a kid.

but this friday my friends...today...is a day to look forward to.

my nearest and dearest put together a little dirty 30 birthday party and we'll be celebrating tonight in le big city.

we'll be playing some pub golf complete with outfits and score cards and i couldn't be more thrilled.

this mama needs a night off.

how to have a successful pub golf evening:

1. gather a great group of people to celebrate:


2. explain the rules and make sure everyone knows you MEAN IT. this is serious people:


and scare you friends a little in the process:


3. assign golf-themed nicknames for all parties:


 4. and bring props. props are very important for photo opps:



5. and last but certainly not least...have fun, stay safe, and take kissy pictures with your sister, or jumping pictures or...just take lots of pictures:




have a great friday, y'all. i sure will be.

linkin' up!



'cause i'm 30! (with a leg kick.)

Wednesday, September 18, 2013
let's give a little WHOOP WHOOP to the birthday girl! (that's me.)


let's just say i had several skate birthday parties growing up but we never got to dress like this. blame it on idaho. blame it on my conservative parents. i'm feeling a little left out.

i'm a big fan of birthday celebrations. i like to really get it out there that it's my birthday and then pretend like i don't like the attention.

i don't actually like the attention. but for some reason, in a twisted way, i do like it.

i don't really understand it myself.

anyway...so far...it's been a bang up day.

it started off with my farmer waking up with the bear. girlfriend rises around 6:30 am. i slept in until about 6:55 am. any extra sleep is good sleep.

our little turtle-bear likes to eat first thing so i got right to work. things were going well until she tried to bite my nipple off. girlfriend has eight teeth now and could probably do some serious damage if she tried.

what she doesn't realize is that biting will get her a one way ticket to "no more boob in her face." and i don't think girlfriend wants any part of that.

i know it's an over-share but this is my birthday and my reality and my blog. we'll all deal.

what i would really like to happen is for turtle-bear to bite my farmer's nipple so he could really know what that feels like.

enough nipple-talk.

my farmer then proceeded to shower me with gifts.

first i received a swiffer sweeper hardwood floor polish polisher thing. if there is one thing this girl likes...it's cleaning supplies. i couldn't have been happier. you see...one day i got so aggressive with my hardwood floor polishing i snapped the handle. i've since been polishing our floors by hand with pledge or with a broken, dangle-handle. it was pretty pathetic looking.

my beloved also got me some fly-swatters. my hobby during the later parts of the summer is fly-killing. we live on a farm and this is our reality. we get about 15-20 flies inside every day. enough to really send me into a shit-fit. i loath them. loath. i have gotten REALLY good at fly-killing. i can swat them to the ground with my bare hand. well, i no longer have to do that because i have two glorious fly-swatters. boom.

what else did i get?



what am i going to do with this little kit?

answer: anything i want because i will always have tools and never have to go hunting for them. farmer has promised not to touch them because they are purple.

and lastly...this post comes to you from my very new, very glorious, very beautiful, new MAC BOOK PRO!!!



they say money can't buy love...this kinda makes me love him even more. but so does the tool kit, fly-swatters, and swiffer sweeper polisher.

pending no more bitten nipples...i think it's going to be the best birthday in all of my 30.

cold weather = crockpot time

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

if  there is one thing this girl likes it's a crockpot meal.

1. i know how to open a can.
2. it's nearly impossible to mess up.
3. while my cooking skillz have improved...i won't be writing my cookbook any time soon.

over in these here parts it dropped from upper 90's to the mid 80's and that was the perfect inspiration to get the crockpot out.

i know that's still summer-feelin' weather...but i can't wait for fall to get here. also, i thought my farmer deserved a nice warm meal so i decided on crockpot chicken and dumplings.

please note that while this is yum, it is not healthy.

please also note it is farmer approved. and me approved. it's good stuff.

i found the recipe via pinterest.

oh pinterest...i love thee.

find the recipe here: CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS


a note to my farmer...

just know that as i'm preparing your meal once (maybe twice) a week...i'm usually fighting this little bear.

as of late she's been obsessed with the fridge. 

on the first day she just played with the condiments in the door and it has since progressed to actively crawling inside of it to grab food items off the shelves. 

seriously girlfriend. you're 10 months old. can't you just crawl around?


how is it possible that she makes most simple activities so much more difficult but so much more fun. she's our little treasure.

the next time i make this i would imagine adding in some veggies will be quite the tasty delight.

maybe some green peppers? or spinach? or both? zucchini would probably be good as well. i'll play around with it.


a bear of a week

Friday, September 13, 2013
1. could it be possible that i've seen a preview of the terrible two's already?

or is it possible that she's actually hit the terrible two's?girlfriend has been cling-master 5000 this week. the worst part? even when i pick her up she still wines and cries. not my idea of fun.




what happened to my sweet little turtle-bear?

i keep telling myself that things change SO quickly. like week to week and sometimes day to day fast...so maybe next week will be different and she'll be back to that happy, sass-face that snorts and steals our food. maybe?

2. have you heard of duolingo? it's a little app for the ol' iPad and it rocks.


if you are interested in practicing another language and learning a few basic phrases...this is the app for you. it's free which is another bonus.

i'm only on lesson three part two, but already i'm impressed with what i've learned.

should i really be impressed with learning rice and sugar in spanish? sure.

3. can fall please get here asap? this week i went over to amy's house and stole some fresh pumpkins from her garden. she helped me craft up these few gems and i kind of love them. unfortunately in my rush to get home i forgot the "k" so now instead of four pumpkins that say my gal's name i have three pumpkins that say, "aye!!!" funny? sure.

ps. painting a chevron pumpkin with my limited art skill-set is extremely difficult. quite the brain-buster.



4. farmer's birthday is tomorrow. he'll be 31. hottest 31 year old i know. i crafted up some john deere colored cakepops for my best guy and i may have eaten 20 in the process. yu-um.


5. i had so little to blog about this week i actually forced myself to cook so that i would have a recipe post. i took pictures and everything, but then i got lazy and didn't write about it. sometimes i just don't find blogging that exciting.

a teaser:


i think that's pretty apparent from the lack-luster in this post.

lo siento.

(i'm sorry in espanol...thanks duolingo!)

linkin' up over yonder:

friday already?

Friday, September 06, 2013
not only is it friday, but it's also september 6th. that means the countdown has begun!

1. i need to get my shiza together asap.


it is 12 days until my birthday.
nine days until my brother-in-laws birthday.
and EIGHT days until my farmer's birthday.

and as my birthday list is growing, selfishly (please add a pair of black frye boots), i have yet to think of a single thing to get my farmer.

granted...my farmer did just buy himself something pretty substantial.

2. speaking of frye boots...what's a girl gotta do to get herself a pair of these?


i'm not completely sold on this particular pair, but i know i need a new black boot for fall. and fall is RIGHT around the corner and i cannot wait.

speaking of fall...

3. i was at my most favorite store (costco) sampling the samples and ran across some beautiful flowers in gorgeous fall colors. have i mentioned i'm excited for fall? well i finally ripped out my very very dead petunias and planted the mums and i think they look lovely.


now i just need to remember to water them on a regular basis and we should be good to go.

i have BIG plans for our front porch this fall. we're talkin' hay bales. corn stalks. maybe a scarecrow? not that anyone will see it except us...but i'll surely appreciate it.

4. as we've all heard, my little gal is pretty outstanding, what with her walking at nine months and all. very athletic, i just know it. well...i figured since she's growing up so quickly i may as well start putting stuff together for a big girl room.

this is where i started:


is this not the most beautiful quilt from anthropologie? i'm in love and i think kaye will be in love too when she's like 14 and the quilt is tattered from years of use.

5. we had a winner winner of the loulou made giveaway a few days ago!!

it is mrs. laura beth from mrs. laura beth! she's a fellow farm wife so that's extra fun.



congrats gal!

i'm all linked up for five on friday. check it, yo.



@karlibellmeier