Where Does the Time Go?

Since I stopped working, I rarely remember what day it is. I'm very active on Instagram and it sounds silly, but hashtags like "mancrushmonday" and "throwbackthursday" often help me remember what day it is- haha.

School has definitely picked up with the amount of homework I have and the amount of studying I need to do. Although overwhelming at times, I love it. I mean really really love it. I sit in class and just smile and laugh and learn so much. I do prefer one teacher over the other (I like her teaching style and personality better), but I am learning so much from both of them. Who know there was a dog named a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen?? I bet you didn't!

I look at both Basha and Dexter very differently and learning more about cats has made me more sad about Tula. I know her life ended to soon, but I know the life she had was mostly a good one, so I try not to dwell on it too much.

Nicholas has had a bit of a cold lately and has been crankier than usual, and fighting me on naps more than usual. He is thankfully still sleeping through the night and usually doesn't give us trouble when putting him down for the night.

Tomorrow we have a day jam packed with events (flu shots for Nick and I! trick or treating for Nicholas! hockey game for Nick and Nicholas! bachelorette party for me!) and Sunday I am seeing my cousin Bryon in a production of Les Miserables. I have not seen Bryon in years and last year he moved to Massachusetts. He was living in N. Andover and just moved to Dracut, in the apartment complex Nick and I were in before we bought the house! Such a small world. I'm looking forward to the play and to seeing him for the first time in 20+ years.

No blog is complete without a few pictures of my little dude(s), so here you go:

Quick CT Visit

My friend Jessie has had a bit of a rough time lately so I went down to CT to visit her for a night. Silly me didn't get any pictures of her and I together, but I got a few pics of her adorable pup Annabelle that I've been dying to meet since she got her. So, here you go:

Halloween Preview

...that is all.

1st Haircut

Well, the little guy finally grew enough hair to get a grown up hair cut! It's been a bit wispy for awhile, but so many of my Mom friends told me how once you cut his baby hair it grows in like grown up hair, so I wanted to hang onto my "baby" boy for as long as possible.

I couldn't have been more proud of him in the barber's chair. He looked a little nervous and uncertain at first, but he was SO good and didn't make a peep. Not gonna lie, I got a little teary ;)

Smolak Farms

My brother Erik and his husband Joe visited this past weekend and we had an awesome time. It is always so great to see them and I'm so thankful they are building a relationship with Nicholas. On Sunday we participated in the Steps for Pets Fundraiser for the Lowell Humane Society. I volunteered for the event and although it felt great to help, I would like to and hope to be able to do more in the future. I made a good connection with one of the workers there and I'm hoping when my Mom visits I will have some free time to spend there and help them out with office work.

Today Erik, Joe, Nicholas and I went to Smolak Farms for pumpkin picking. Unfortunately Nick had to work so I'm hoping to go back there as a family and get another exorbitantly expensive pumpkin (it was worth it to see the little dude running around in the pumpkin patch though).

Here are some pics of our adventures today:

We started at the ducks and I knew instantly he was going to enjoy himself

This was probably his favorite guy, a huge animal but very sweet and gentle when he was fed (I fed him a lot too and had to remind myself to give Nicholas food because I enjoyed it so much!)

A perpetually smiling goat. Also adorable!

Chatting with the big guy

Being chased by Uncle Joe

More conversations with this guy. He honestly just sat down and start jabbering away.

An apple tree with pumpkins hanging from it- cute idea and a great photo op!

He only tried to pick up the heaviest pumpkins

My pumpkin smiling

He insisted on walking Bella in the pumpkin patch. She was not amused :)

My handsome bro with his pumpkin of choice

NOT a fan of pictures with Mom

New Recipes

Some more great recipes I've made over the last few weeks:



Chocolate, Almond, Dried Cherry, Coconut Bites. A great snack, and it's nice to know exactly what is going in them:

http://www.fitsugar.com/Paleo-Holiday-Treats-26285810

Gnocchi with Tomatoes and Goat Cheese (RIDICULOUS!)

http://www.foodrecipeshq.com/skillet-gnocchi-in-rich-tomato-and-goat-cheese-sauce/

Eggplant Parmesan - I've made eggplant before but this recipe was perfect. I use Pomi strained tomatoes and add garlic and spices so it's very light, I also go light on the cheese.

http://deliciouslydeclassified.com/2011/10/13/eggplant-parmesan/

Zucchini Cakes- I've made these a bunch of times!

http://blog.yummly.com/blog/2012/07/healthy-zucchini-recipes-that-taste-like-guilty-pleasures/

A similar recipe, yet equally delicious and good for kiddos:

Zucchini Tots:

http://leankitchen.com/2013/06/20/zuketots.htm

Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge. I was very skeptical about this one but they were very good! I bought organic coconut oil on Amazon and it wasn't very expensive. There's a slight coconut taste but it's not a bad thing:

http://creatingnaturally.com/healthy-chocolate-peanut-butter-fudge/

Happy 5 Years!

Today is our five year wedding anniversary. Every year gets better in so many different ways. From buying our home the year we were married, to getting Dexter in 2009, to having Nicholas in 2012, and so many more amazing things, there is no one else I'd rather share all of this with than Nick. I am a truly fortunate person who counts her blessings every single day. Life is a gift. We only get one shot. Enjoy it. I know I am.

xoxo

New Do'

Completely forgetting I am in a wedding in a month, I chopped off my hair yesterday. It's ok though, I love it. :)

Before:

After: