Etsy SHOP!!!

I am so excited that I finally opened an etsy shop! Right now, I have hair clips and tote bags. But I have just ordered the supplies to begin making hand stamped jewelry! I plan to start out with necklaces and bracelets then eventually add rings and earrings. So stay tuned for new things to come and I would welcome and appreciate input.

Here's the link:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/lilitruwest

GO CHECK IT OUT!!!!

Big Boys

Truett is now 4 1/2 months old and loves sitting in his bumbo seat. He is cooing and laughing and trying to sit up, though he still isn't crazy about rolling over! He likes to sit in his little seat while I cook dinner and wash dishes, etc. He is happy as long as he can see somebody and does not like to lay down. He doesn't nap a whole lot, especially for a 4 month old. Though I can't complain b/c he does sleep through the night. He is a smiley little baby and as my cousin said "he smiles with his hole body!)

Weston the Messton(LOL)is sweet and a little booger. He is the one that will always tell me he loves me then turns around and slaps me or says I am mean (that line he learned from his sissy ;). He completed his very first year of preschool, though it nearly broke my heart to send him. He used to cry everyday, but in the end he really enjoyed school. He loved his teachers too. I hope that he will learn to swim this summer (he is a fearless boy who makes me nervous at the pool, even with his float). He will be 3 in August... my how time flies!


Cousin Anna came to hang out and help me take all the kids to the Botanical Gardens (Max, Lili, Ty, Weston and Truett). She is such a big help! And just look at the special things (pig faces) she teaches the kids:) LOL! JK, she really is a great helper and a sweet "young lady". The kids just loved having her around! I told her she should just move in:)

Lili's Last Day of School

Lili-Grace had a great first grade year! She had a wonderful teacher. I cannot believe that she will be in 2nd grade next year! It is bittersweet. I love to watch her grow, but it truly goes too fast and I find myself missing her younger years too. I have been needing and meaning to get rid of her little clothes, but I keep hanging on to them... I just can't bring myself to part with all of them.
We also love Mrs. Phillips, Lili-Grace's principal. She is a special lady who definitely found her calling. We are truly blessed to have such a great school for our kids.
This was the gift we made for Mrs. Young. I got the idea out of Family Fun Magazine. Inside the little flower envelopes are giftcards to various places.

Time to catch up!

The end of the school year was insane with trying to get ready for, school play field trips, field day, dance recital, etc! Busy, busy, busy! I am so glad summer is here! I like having Lili home everyday instead of having to go to school! We have 2 extras with us this summer... Max and Ty! They get to come hang out with us during the day while Missy is at work. Lili-Grace and Weston love having some buddies to play with throughout the day.

We also went to see Thomas and the aquarium in Chattanooga!

Needless to say, we were tired afterwards!

Spider Bite... EEK!

So the hubs starts getting sick on Friday and then Saturday morning there was a mysterious bump. After some internet research, we concluded it was a brown recluse spider bite... yuck! So I continued to research for a concoction to stop the venom as it was the weekend and the Terry wasn't to into going to the walk in clinic or hospital(go figure!). This is what I came up with after my "research":

Activated charcoal ( a staple, it to adsorbs things)
baking soda (dunno why, but that's what it said)
tea tree oil
lavender oil (both oils are antibiotic, antiviral and antimicrobial to prevent infection)
Unpetroleum jelly (or vaseline/vaseline alt for a base)

Lay it on thick and change out every couple of hours. I also read that basil oil worked well to!

After applying this, the sore seemed to stop growing. He went to the doctor today (Monday), the doctor said that what we did really helped. It was starting to get into his blood stream (he was getting a rash as well). This stopped that spread and also made a scab form, which is apparently what they want to see happen! Would you believe that my husband found the dead spider under his desk at work this morning ( I was so relieved b/c I was worried about the kids but I hadn't seen any BR around our house).

So, I hope that this can help someone! I would imagine that it could work with many different bug bites, especially venomous. Hopefully you'll never have to use this, but just in case, it really worked.....

Try These... Yum!

Southwest Chicken Salad

4 c. cubed rotisserie chicken ( I used the Oscar Mayer strips from the deli meat section- Southwest)
2 c. frozen corn, thawed
1 c. chopped roasted sweet red peppers (I used green bell pepper)
1 c. chopped red onion
1 c. (or bunch) minced cilantro (the best part:)

dressing:
3 Tbsp. lime juice
3 Tbsp. olive oil
4 tsp. honey
2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp . chili powder
1/2 tsp. pepper

Mix top 5 ingredients ( I sauteed onion and pepper first).
Mix dressing ingredients together and coat over chicken mixture. So very yummy!

I served this on pita. You could do salads or wraps too!

I also made Guacamole too!

Guacamole

2-3 ripe avocados
onion
garlic salt
lime juice
salt
cilantro ( I like alot)

Mix/process all together to desired taste!
This is my new favorite meal.

And if you don't know about this quick fabulous desert, this is a good one:

Oreo Truffles (so easy)

1 pkg. oreos
1 pkg (box) cream cheese, softened (let sit out of the fridge)
milk chocolate
white chocolate

process/blend together. Form into balls. Dip in chocolate/white chocolate.

Happy Cookin'!

Poor Little Brother!

Check out what Lili-Grace did to her poor little brother! Daddy wasn't too happy! But Lili-GRace thought it was so hilarious so Weston thought so too!

Botanical Gardens

We had a fun day at the Botanical Gardens last Friday. They had the tree houses up and they were really awesome! The kids had a great time checking them out.

Results

Ok so I have used my little laser thing 2 times now and worked up to the third setting.The third setting is a little more intense, but still doesn't hurt too bad. I am pleased to say that I see some results with little patches on my legs that are hair free almost! Woohoo... I hope to continue to see more improvement! After 2 treatments, I have to say that I am impressed!

Truett is 1 month! wow

My little man is now a month (well technically 7 weeks). He is my little Godzilla baby. He eats every 3 hours (my other 2 were sleeping through the night by now). He's outgrowing all of his NB clothes and diapers(my others didn't until like 3 mos). He has started smiling and trying to make those beautiful cooing sounds. And believe it or not, fighting his sleep...uh oh! I have spoiled him to being held but oh well... my philosophy: enjoy your baby!

Got a great new gadget!

I despise shaving and have...um...since I started! So I decided to buy an at home laser hair removal system. I chose the Silk'n SenEpil because:
1. It got great reviews
2. It has a larger head for quicker use
3. You can plug it to the wall for unlimited use (no charging necessary) as opposed to others I looked at that had to be charged and only lasted as long as the charge.
4. Cost! At roughly $500 (+the cost of cartridges), it is so much cheaper than going to a professional (which can cost upwards of $2000-$3000)
5. You can do it in on your own time!

The only drawback: having to buy extra $50 cartridges. A cartridge is good for 750 pulses.

Skin does have to meet criteria: the lighter the batter. NO recent sun exposure!
Hair too: the darker the better

SO I was so excited to receive it! And the first session went easier and quicker than I thought it would. It only took 45 minutes to laser my underarms, arms, and full legs (including bikini).

And pain level: none, although I did start out on the lowest power setting as suggested. Just a warm slightly tingling sensation. On thicker hairs, that sensation was slightly stronger.

I ordered it from Sephora, which is great because they give you all kinds of samples for beauty products!

Results: Can't tell yet. It does take several sessions to see full results. So we shall see. I hope to be done before summer because it is not advised to use this on sun exposed skin do to risk of burns.

I'll keep posting about this amazing little gadget!

A New Recipe to try

Ok, here's a different yummy recipe

Cilantro Lime Chicken Soup

2 Tblsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tblsp chili powder
chicken breast (about 2 breasts)
5 c. chicken broth
1 c. corn (frozen)
1 c. tomatoes (I used 1 can diced)
1/2 bunch cilantro
1/4 c. lime juice
salt/pepper to taste

1. Saute onion and garlic in olive oil. Add chili powder.
2. Add chicken and brown.
3. Add broth, corn, tomatoes, and cilantro and bring to a boil.
4. Simmer until chicken is cooked through (about 10 min). Discard cilantro sprigs.
5. Add chopped cilantro (the other half of the bunch) and lime juice.

Note: Watch the lime juice... not too much! It can overpower.

A Mom's Impression Giveaway

Check out
http://amomsimpression.com/

to enter

Bamboosa priya skirt giveaway!

Oh yeah and...

Check out marchforbabies.org/laurenmarsh and help me raise money for the March of Dimes. We are walking in April!

http://marchforbabies.org/personal_page.asp?pp=2922072&ct=4&w=4030704&u=laurenmarsh

What works for me

Well, now that I'm on my last baby, I have found some great products that I wish I would've had all along!


1. A MUST- the Belly Bandit
What it does: cinches your post baby belly in
Why I love it: not only did it help my belly go down (not that it's a miracle worker, but it helped a lot), but I felt so supported that I was up doing what needed to be done and felt wonderful! I wish I had found this one sooner!


2. Baby K'tan
What it does: awesome baby carrier that supports the baby like the womb and is super comfortable and supportive for mom. Hands are free and back isn't sore and baby is happy! Doesn't he look blissful!


3. Gumdrop pacifier
Cutest pacifier that was given to us in the NICU. You have to order them online, but they are similar to the "soothie", but doesn't cover up half of their face. And they have these too cute "cuddle squares" that you can attach to the pacifier that are soft and cuddly. I'll have to upload a better pic, but you can see it laying next to Truett.

more to come!