Lists, Lists & Lists Galore

Lists are another thing (along with copious amounts of office supplies) that make me feel organized. On a sub-conscious level I get that it's what you do with the list that determines whether you are organized or not but regardless I like lists. On the same vein are printable templates. So allow me to share some of my faves.

See Jane Work - cute & stylish office supplies
wow! I want to buy everything and they carry everything this girl could want.

From Jonathan Adler highlighters

to the Life.doc organizing binder. 

But back to the point at hand. On the site's blog, aptly titled 'Pulling It Together' they have the most wonderful 'to do' list template - download it here.  

isn't it cute?

Another great site I just discovered is...

momAgenda - looking around this beautiful site seriously makes me believe I can be an organized person and they make it look like such fun to boot! They have a fantastic selection of printables. Check them all out here and here. I don't think I can resist printing them all out, even the ones I have no need for like the back to school checklist :)

There is so much more out there....what are some of your favorite organizing supply sites or great printables? Share the love!

Tweet

Dream Dressing ~ Midnight Funkyness

It's always fun to get a little funky! 

I love mixing artsy casual with sequins and that bag - to die for!! (hum..I wonder if my diaper changing clutch would fit in that?)

Tweet

I can't resist. 

They just look too yummy for words and such a classic to boot! 

Yellow Cupcakes 

from MarthaStewart.com. 

they were on the 'our easiest cupcakes' list so shouldn't be too hard to whip up a batch :) Worth noting is the little snippet at the end letting you know you should eat them in a day - hehehehe. 

Makes 12

• FOR THE CUPCAKES
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• Sprinkles, for decorating
• FOR THE FROSTING
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.line the cups of a standard (12-cup) muffin tin with paper or foil liners. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a liquid-measuring cup, mix milk and vanilla; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. With mixer on low speed, add half of dry ingredients, followed by milk-vanilla mixture, then remaining dry ingredients. Do not overmix.
3. Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups (a 2-ounce or 1/4-cup ice-cream scoop is good for this).
4. Place tin on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a cupcake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool cupcakes 5 minutes in tin, then remove and cool completely on a rack before frosting.
5. Prepare frosting: in a medium bowl, with an electric mixer, beat unsalted butter, confectioners' sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Mix in up to 1/2 cup more sugar or a few more teaspoons of milk as necessary to achieve a spreadable consistency. Makes enough for 12 cupcakes.
6. Frost cupcakes; decorate with sprinkles before frosting dries to ensure that they stick. The frosted cupcakes are best eaten within 1 day.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Yellow Cupcakes Recipe - MarthaStewart.com

Tweet

Dream Dressing ~ Still Summertime?

I can't give up summertime dressing just yet so you'll pardon me while we take a walk down the boardwalk in this delightful dress. 

The shoes make me speechless, the only words I can make out are "I", "want" & "need"..... 

Tweet

My Skip*Hop Pronto chainging pad clutch arrived today. I'm so excited!!

I choose the black version with this fun green/yellow/blue print on the inside changing pad.

FYI, I ordered it from a great site

enter here

I've been so impressed with them. Great prices, great service and quick delivery. This is the second time I ordered from them and each time the order arrived the day after I placed it.

They have all kinds of discounts on specific products and sales running almost all the time so most of the products I ordered ending up being cheaper from there then any other place I found on the web. 

They also have a cool referral program. 

where a new customer gets 15% off their first order and you get a $10 credit. 

I'm including my referral code below so if any of you want to check out the site you can enjoy the discounts (and I'll enjoy the store credit :) ) 

Get 15% off

your first order

use code RUTH5630

shop for all your baby needs: body pillows, good start formula, swaddle pod

check out baby registry

Not valid for existing Diapers.com or Soap.com customers. Some resctrictions apply.

Some of the other items I ordered from them are... 

 1) The Ergo Baby Carrier in Galaxy Grey

ErgoBaby

Shout out to GeorgieGirl who alerted me to this baby carrier on her blog - see her 'can't live without' post here. 

I did a little research and it seems to be a great choice. I especially like the silver grey color and the embroidered star pattern. I thought it added a little pizazz while still being neutral enough for the husband to use (he has expressed an interest in wearing the baby so I'm hoping that will be his method of bonding and caring for the little one so getting a carrier he will use was essential.) I might be a little ashamed (then again maybe not) to admit that I also did a mental scan of my wardrobe to asses which color/pattern would go best with the majority of my clothes. I liked the black option since it's such a classic choice that will go well with everything but it had a camel color lining that I didn't like too much. 

so Galaxy Grey it was. Bonus - the infant insert matched the star pattern which makes it totally adorable. 

Ergo Baby Infant Insert Heart 2 Heart 

one of the other items was the 2) the Bebe au Lait Aero Hooter Hiders Nursing Cover

Bebe Au Lait

I can't resist showing you an up close of this pattern. I LOVE it! Such a perfect shade of green! In person it's upbeat and perky. 

and it comes with a convenient pouch to store it in so it doesn't get all shmushed in your diaper bag.

(okay, as cool as the pouch is, I just really wanted another picture to show you how cute this pattern is) 

and one of my favorite purchases the 3) Aden & Anais Oh My! Swaddle Wrap blankets 

aden & anais

I also found out about these from Young House Love (see previous post on diaper bags as they were the ones who alerted me to the Pronto changing clutch.) Check out their post on must haves here. 

On the last meeting of my birth preparation course the teacher showed us a short video called 'The Happiest Baby on the Block' by a Dr. Harvey Karp. I was very intrigued by the method so I picked up the book (of the same title) and am in middle of reading it. I've read enough to understand the swaddling method he advises and I think I'm going to give it a try. I was super excited to hear that these blankets are perfect for that and I can't wait to try them! 

What are your 'can't live without baby products/purchases? And have any of you tried the swaddling method? Any advice for the newbie would be appreciated. :) 

Tweet

Dream Dressing ~ Bright & Cozy

I can't get over these booties! They look so lush I just want to slip my foot inside and never take it out :) A splash of yellow never hurt anyone but with this purse it's divine. Delicious! 

Tweet

my afternoon snack

I'm trying to be conscious of the fact that I could go into labor at any point. Therefore I think before I eat ( a relatively new concept for me) so I won't be full on burgers and fries when it happens.

For today's snack, well at least one of them, I had this: 

a bowl of pomegranate seeds and watermelon cubes...so fresh and yummy! Bonus - how beautiful are the different reds against the white (plastic) bowl.  

It's definitely a unique combination but here are some fun recipes for each....on their own :) 

Simply Recipes

Golden Beet and Pomegranate Salad Recipe

Oprah's Pomegranate Martini

Servings: Serves 2

Ingredients

Oprah's Pomegranate Martini

• 1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice
• 2 ounces Absolute Citron vodka or white tequila
• 1 ounce Cointreau liquor
• Cup of ice
• Splash of sparkling water (optional)
• Squeeze of lemon (optional)

Directions

 Shake ingredients in a shaker and put in chilled martini glasses. Put pomegranate fruit into glass as garnish.

and of course a video how to on how to open a pomegranate...

Food Recipes:
How To Cut Open A Pomegranate

I love that there is actually a 'National Watermelon Promotion Board' 

http://www.watermelon.org

with all kinds of info including a section on carving!!

Link 

Watermelon, Tomato and Mint Salad

Epicurious | August 2008

by Rick Rodgers
Summer Gatherings

What may seem like an incongruous mixture is actually a harmonious blend of ingredients and textures. There are few dishes that illustrate how the seemingly disparate flavors of sweet, sour, bitter, and salty can be successfully combined. One tip: While the melon should be chilled, the other ingredients are their most flavorful at room temperature, so combine the salad just before serving. Yield: Makes 8 servings 1 (4- to 4 1/2-pound) piece watermelon, preferably seedless 3 large ripe tomatoes, preferably green or orange heirlooms, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes 1 medium sweet onion, such as Vidalia, Maui, or Walla Walla, thinly sliced 4 tablespoons chopped fresh mint 1 cup (4 ounces) crumbled feta Cut off and discard the watermelon rind. Cut the watermelon into 1-inch cubes, removing any seeds as needed. Transfer to serving bowl. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour and up to 12 hours. Add the tomatoes, onion, and mint to the watermelon and toss gently. Add the feta and toss again. Serve immediately. Source Information From Summer Gatherings by Rick Rodgers, (C) © April 2008 William Morrow

Chilled Watermelon Soup

From the May 2005 Issue of Self 

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 1 -inch piece ginger, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 limes: one for zest and both for juice
• 3 cups cubed and seeded watermelon
• 2 mint leaves, plus more for garnish
• 1/4 cup sparkling wine (or sparkling water)

PREPARATION

1. 
   
   
   
   In a small nonstick skillet, gently sauté ginger, sugar, and zest over medium heat 2 minutes. Add lime juice and simmer until no liquid remains. Transfer mixture to a blender and add watermelon, mint, and sparkling wine. Puree until smooth; strain with sieve into bowl. Chill soup at least 3 hours before serving. For a more elegant version: Divide soup into 2 equal portions. Freeze a portion for 3 hours to make a granité (a slushy of sorts) and chill remaining half for 3 hours. Scrape granité into 4 bowls and pour chilled soup over granité. Garnish with mint leaves; serve immediately.

THE SKINNY

90 calories per serving, 0.5 g fat (0 g saturated), 20 g carbs, 1 g fiber

and there you have it. Here's hoping for your sake I'm not snacking on anything stranger then this. No promises! 

Tweet

Takin' Care of Business

Ltr from Management: (that's me)  

Since I could go into labor at any point I am getting a few posts ready so you will have something to enjoy while I'm dealing with labor and delivery (and probably for a little while after as well.) So if the posts are sounding awfully calm and coherent for a new mother now you'll know why :) 

I will take a moment to post 'breaking news' when the big event happens not to worry! 

~ Ruthie

I wish it was going to go down like this! 

enjoy some things that made me smile....

hehehehehehehehehe :) 

Tweet

Dream Dressing ~ date night!

Since we're all getting a little sick of the maternity clothing I thought I would whip out an outfit I would LOVE to wear! Also the husband and I are going out on a date tonight, the last one before becoming parents probably, so I'm feeling super inspired by beautiful date appropriate dresses and heels (seriously can't wait to wear my shoes again!) 

Tweet