Studio Pebbles

Skinnytaste Cookbook Review

SkinnyTasteCookbook_Review_Cover

I'm back from another long radio silence. I'm not going to lie, life has been one big mess these past couple of months, and with that, blogging hasn't been an option for me...however, come hell or two children, I made the time to come and post my review of The SkinnyTaste Cookbook! 

Gina Homolka- the amazing chef extraordinaire behind the blog SkinnyTaste.com- is not only an amazing cook, but a genuinely warm and down-to-earth person. I got to hang out with Gina in Minnesota for our makeovers with Target, and I enjoyed every minute I spent getting to know her as we have daughters around the same age, and each of us has a background in graphic design. 

SkinnyTasteCookbook_BanginShrimp

If you aren't familiar with the premise behind the recipes on SkinnyTaste.com, here's the scoop: Gina started playing around with her favorite family recipes when she joined Weight Watchers, looking for ways to cut calories and use healthier ingredients without sacrificing taste; and also, who has time to make separate meals for yourself and your family? She started blogging her amazing recipes at SkinnyTaste.com and the rest is history! Some of my favorite SkinnyTaste makeovers have been her Skinny Cranberry Bliss Bars inspired by the Starbucks treat, and Spicy Buffalo Califlower Bites to replace that stand-by greasy chicken. 

Our family has worked on making simple changes to our fridge and pantry over the years, like switching from Sour Cream to Greek Yogurt (tastes identical) and we've always used Whole Wheat bread, buy items high in fiber and cook with Olive Oil, but we definitely need more of a push when it comes to adding some variety and slimming down our meals. 

SkinnyTasteCookbook_Mussels

SkinnyTasteCookbook_Inside

The SkinnyTaste Cookbook is full of beautiful photos of most of the recipes, along with a ton of helpful hints (The "Skinny Scoop") Perfect Pairings, and an introduction to The Skinny Basics where Gina shares her common sense advice on creating a "good-for-you kitchen and lifestyle." I agree with her wholeheartedly that fad diets don't work and that eating real food keeps you satisfied longer. And, I like that she encourages small changes even if we can't make big ones right away...like substituting half of your pasta for whole grain to get used to taste and texture. 

Each recipe also contains helpful icons that indicate if its Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Quick (30 mins or less), Freezer-Friendly, or a Slow Cooker meal. Each meal also gives you the serving size, calories, carbs, sodium, protein, etc. 

I have a long list of recipes I can't wait to make, which is saying a lot for me because I am a really lazy cook, but even for someone with a passion for cooking, The SkinnyTaste Cookbook offers a wide variety of new tastes and ideas that are sure to inspire even the most seasoned home chef. 

SkinnyTasteCookbook_SilkPie

I've already made a batch of  Convenient Slow-cooker Shredded Chicken, and of course the Slow-cooker Santa Fe Chicken, because it's delicious, easy and goes great in so many dishes, and can't wait to try these other must makes: 

  • Make-ahead Western Omelet "Muffins"
  • Apple 'n' Spice Baked Oatmeal
  • Dad's Jammin' Crepes (per my daughter Maggie's request)
  • Slow-cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup
  • Summer Lobster Rolls
  • Petite Baked Crab Cakes
  • Bangin' Good Shrimp
  • So-addicted Chicken Enchiladas
  • Chicken Cordon Bleu Meatballs
  • Kiss My (shrimp and) Grits 
  • Thai Coconut Mussels
  • Skinny Broccoli Mac n' Cheese
  • Silky Chocolate Cream Pie

The only thing I would have liked to see included in the cookbook would be a "grocery list" of ingredients and the recipes you would make with it. For example, if I buy "chipotle chile in adobo sauce," I'd love a quick reference to what recipes include that ingredient, for help with meal planning. 

The SkinnyTaste Cookbook is a must have for every kitchen, a great gift idea for the Holiday season, and a most welcome addition to our home. I know putting this book together was an enormous labor of  love for Gina, but it was worth every late night spent crafting it's completion! I'm so very excited for Gina and wish her continued success, more and more recipes on SkinnyTaste.com, and of course, a long vacation to relax and enjoy the moment! 

I hope you'll grab a copy for yourself and a few for your friends and family and upcoming gift exchanges and if you haven't done so already, add SkinnyTaste.com to your on-line recipe box.

SkinnyTasteCookbook_MakingPancakes

Author Information (from the publisher): 

GINA HOMOLKA is the founder of SkinnyTaste.com, the award-winning blog that's been featured on Fitness, Better Homes and Gardens, Glamour.com, and FineCooking.com, among other media outlets. She lives on Long Island with her husband and their two children.

HEATHER K. JONES, R.D. is a registered dietitian, the author of several nutrition books, and the founder of www.heatherkjones.com, a weight loss resource that focuses on healing and hope instead of diets and deprivation. 

xoxoxo
-JP

Full Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links, and I was provided a copy of The SkinnyTaste Cookbook to review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

October 15, 2014 in Everyday Life, Shopping , Sponsored Posts | Permalink | Comments (0)

Reblog (0) | | | Pin It! |

DIY “Faux Frame” Modern Art Canvas + Home Depot Giveaway

 

DIYFauxFrame_Title


Today I am excited to share one of my favorite projects with help from ScotchBlue™ Painters Tape and The Home Depot, as part of the “Get it, Got it, Go!” Summer Blog hop hosted by Kate at Centsational Girl.

This is literally one of my most favorite and signature techniques in making affordable art for your home, and something I have wanted to share for ages. I always use ScotchBlue™ Painters Tape to get the best results, and to help you pick up some supplies to use on your own DIY projects, I’m giving away a $50 gift card to The Home Depot – you can find information on how to enter at the end of this post!


DIY "Faux Frame" Modern Art Canvas 

Abstract paintings are a great decor item for the home, and are a simple and affordable DIY. A few years ago, I wanted to add some art to a large wall in our dining room- I found a trio of paintings in a home decor magazine that I fell madly in love with. Since buying the prints at $300 each was totally cost prohibitive, I figured I would put my degree in Fine Arts to good use, so I set to work on trying to replicate them for my home. The prints in the decor magazine were framed, which looked amazing, but framing is also costly- so I decided the easiest way to get a gallery look with my art would be to tape off a large border on the canvas and use it to create a "framed" look around my paintings. It was a total success- and since then, I do it with every canvas I paint.

IMG_4707web

IMG_4696_WEB

(above paintings are inspired replicas of work by artist Jenny Nelson)

Since Father’s Day is fast approaching, I thought I would have Maggie join me in making a canvas to give to John as a gift. It was a great opportunity to talk with her as we painted about my experiences as an artist and how color and shapes can make you feel. 

IMG_4476_web

Before we started, we talked about the kind of painting we were going to make, that it wasn’t a “picture” of something, it was just going to be a fun mix of whatever colors she picked. We talked about the other paintings in our home as an example of what we would be making. 

I gathered the supplies I picked up from The Home Depot and our new roll of ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape Original Multi-Use 2090, along with an artist canvas (prepped the day before with a nice coat of white acrylic paint,) my acrylic art paints and brushes and we got to work. 

IMG_4479_web

First, we taped off the edges of the art canvas, folding the tape onto the surface of the canvas to create a wide border.

IMG_4505_web

I used a paint knife to push the tape into the fabric of the art canvas, creating a nice tight seal. Then, we loaded up a paint pallette with all kinds of bright and bold colors and Maggie got right to work, starting with polka dots in Daddy’s favorite color- turquoise! 

IMG_4549_web

Maggie is at that age where she wants to draw and paint things, like people, flowers, grass and sunshine, so I really enjoyed watching Maggie embrace the play aspect of using color just because, and letting her artistic license flow. She’s a natural!

IMG_4568_web

IMG_4590_web

Voila! After adding a few more of those special turquoise polka dots, her mini-masterpiece now complete! We set it aside to dry, and a few hours later, it was time to remove the ScotchBlue™ Painters Tape and reveal the “Faux Frame.” 

IMG_4601_web

IMG_4612_web

All we need now is a special place in the house to hang it- right next to Daddy's side of the bed!

IMG_4823_web

We think he is going to love it!

I hope this project has inspired you to grab your own roll of ScotchBlue™ Painters Tape and dive into a creative project for your home. To help you get started, enter to win a $50 giftcard from The Home Depot by entering the giveaway below.  Don't forget to sign up for The Home Depot superfan program!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you want more ideas for all the ways ScotchBlue™ Painters Tape can help get your DIY fix, check out these projects from the other amazing bloggers participating in the “Get it, Got it, Go!” Blog Hop series:



  • Centsational Girls DIY Modern Pet Bed 
  • DIY Farmer's Market Display Stand from Brooklyn Limestone 
  • Front Porch Makeover from 320 Sycamore
  • DIY Barbecue Tool Storage from Whipperberry
  • DIY Color Block Umbrella Table from Dukes & Duchesses
  • DIY Board and Batten from Simply Designing

 

 

I am proud to be a 3M- sponsored blogger, and, as part of my responsibilities, I get the opportunity to evaluate products from ScotchBlue™ Painter's Tape. Opinions are my own and additional product(s) used in the project were selected by me.

For more inspiration, follow ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape on facebook, twitter, and pinterest, and follow The Home Depot on facebook, twitter, and pinterest.

June 12, 2014 in Craft Projects, Interiors, Kids Stuff, Sponsored Posts | Permalink | Comments (0)

Reblog (0) | | | Pin It! |

Seahawks Love

BeastModeValentine_Skittles_StudioPebbles_Sq

Hey Everyone! 

I know it's been a while since I've shared anything here, and I bet you are mighty tired of seeing Christmas projects in February! So sorry for the long break, you can totally blame this dude:

8937338c8c4f11e381491257ae94662a_8

I thought I would come out of my Mommy cave and share a couple of projects I made over the past few weeks for my fellow Seattle Seahawks fans!! 

It's okay if you don't follow football, but you should be aware that in our house, we bleed Blue and Green! We are proudly part of the 12th Man Nation, and are SO EXCITED that our beloved Seahawks won the Superbowl!! Here are a few pictures of us celebrating: 

Superbowlxlviii

Did you know that Seattle's celebration parade had over 700,000 people show up? We were totally devestated that we couldn't go because of the little man, but I've tried to make up for it by pouring my love into these projects...

First up, what Hawks fan wouldn't totally dig handing out Marshawn Lynch approved Power Pellet Valentines? My friend was lamenting on Facebook that there should be some Seahawks/Skittles Valentines Combo out there, and since I hadn't made anything for Maggie to take to her friends yet, I whipped these FREE Beast Mode Valentine Printables up for her, and you, my fellow Hawks fans! 

BeastModeValentine_Skittles_StudioPebbles_Main

BeastModeValentine_Skittles_StudioPebbles_lrg

BeastModeValentine_Skittles_StudioPebbles_lrg2

BeastModeValentine_Skittles_StudioPebbles_cls

 Seahawks logo is copyright of the NFL, is shown for display purposes only and not included in download.

You can download your copy of these printable notes by clicking on the box below.

Dowload-01

Next up in my Love Fest for all things Seahawks, is a Subway Art poster made especially for Hawks fans, like myself. I put this together the day of the parade, my computer screen barely visable through my FOMO tears...

GoHawks_SubwayArt_StudioPebbles_2014

GoHawks_SubwayArt_StudioPebbles_wall

I shared this 11"x 17" print on my personal Facebook page, and had so many requests from friends wanting one, that I put in a big print order. I should have a few left for sale on Etsy, and will happily restock if there is a large enough demand. 

GO HAWKS! 

Of course, Football isn't my only sports passion...

Can you say "Men's Olympic Curling?" 

Me-ow.  

Happy Valentine's Day, Sports Fans! 
xoxo
JP

February 11, 2014 in Digital + Print Products, Everyday Life, Freebies | Permalink | Comments (5)

Reblog (0) | | | Pin It! |

A Muse Studio | Merry Little Christmas

StudioPebbles_AMuse_DecRedFull

Hey y'all! 

Over the past few months I've been working on a couple of albums using A Muse Studio products and sharing them here on my blog. Today I am wrapping up the series with my latest spread from my Hello December book. (You can find the Holiday album posts here, here and here and my Halloween album here and here.)

Last weekend I took Maggie to a Holiday Tea at the Salish Lodge in Snoqualmie, WA, about 5 minutes down the road from where we live. It might have to become a new holiday tradition, because I'm sure she won't remember (being 3.5yrs old) that we once got dressed up and had a fancy girls luncheon that consisted of 99% desserts. Her sandwich was PB+J on Banana Bread. It was effing delicious. 

Life has brought a lot of change for Maggie this fall, and I think a day with Mommy eating sugar and fat was just what she needed. I mean...just look at that smile.

StudioPebbles_AMuse_Dec1up

StudioPebbles_AMuse_DecHeart

StudioPebbles_AMuse_Dec4up

StudioPebbles_AMuse_Dec4Close

StudioPebbles_AMuse_DecTree

StudioPebbles_AMuse_DecTag

I'm glad I have this album to work on and add to without the pressure of a daily format (or even weekly for that matter), as just having it as a work in progress keeps the idea of capturing our holiday activities on my radar.

As I mentioned before, having a baby smack dab in the middle of the bermuda triangle of the holiday calendar has meant a pretty low-key Christmas for us. I hate that I've only been able to do a tiny fraction of the crafting that I usually enjoy this time of year...but I love that at least the crafting I did, involved a gorgeous A Muse Studio wood grain stamp and tassels made from baker's twine. 

It's the little things that make the season bright. 

Ho Ho Ho!
-JP

I'll be back to share the winner from the Target Gift Card giveaway shortly, so stay tuned! 

FTC Disclosure: A Muse Studio has provided compensation and project supplies in exchange for this series. All opinions and experiences shared are my own

December 20, 2013 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Reblog (0) | | | Pin It! |

Holiday Fashion for Baby + Photo Shoot | Target Inner Circle

HolidayFashionGraphic

Hello Friends! 

December is flying by so extremely fast around here, I can't even believe it! We'll be welcoming Santa in less than 2 WEEKS which means we need to get our Christmas pictures done ASAFP and our cards in the mail before we run out of time. 

Thankfully, I don't have to stress much about outfits for the kids because as part of the Inner Circle team, Target asked me to pick out a few favorites and share them with you as part of their #MyKindOfHoliday campaign! I had already pre-shopped a bit for Maggie, but needed clothes for Baby Bodie, so I gathered a few festive choices and styled all of my picks for a "Holiday Fashion for Baby" round-up. 

GreenPug_700

I found these sneakers in a box of Maggie's old newborn baby clothes, along with a set of gender neutral baby leggings, so I picked up this adorable onsie to match, and a grey and white stripe sock and hat set to go with. This is a total standard baby uniform; perfect for a lazy day at home, or hitting the mall with Mommy for last minute shopping. 

RedSuspenders_700

This jumpsuit with suspenders and bow-tie is ADORABLE! I usually balk from dressing Bodie in outfits that are too "adult" themed, but I couldn't resist this. My only hesitation was the colors, because I don't decorate in traditional red and green for Christmas...but I grabbed it anyway.

Then I brought it home and gave it a full color makeover! 

HolidayFashionDIYOnsie

KittyShirt_700

You've cat to be kitten me right meow! I couldn't let Bodie have all the fun...this shirt is everything! I love bright colors and bold graphics so I had to get this for Maggie. I paired it with a silver tutu and yellow leggings already in her closet. 

CableKnit_700

How precious is this cable knit jumpsuit and matching trapper hat in a beautiful vanilla color for Bodie? I think this will be the outfit he wears for his first fancy Santa photo. 

SequinSkirt_700

Maggie will be wearing hearts and sequins for her date with the big man...I picked out a lace-edged cardigan and simple tank top to go with her rose gold sequin bubble skirt, cream and black heart tights and classic patent leather shoes. I can't wait to see these outfits on my kids. 

TIC_HolidayOutfitsBaby

1. Suspender Suit // 2. Hat/Sock Set // 3. Pug Onsie // 4. Baby Leggings // 5. Baby Sneakers // 6. Cable Jumpsuit // 7. Trapper Hat // 8. Sequin Shirt // 9. Tulle Skirt // 10. Patent Leather Shoes // 11. Leopard Leggings // 12. Lace Edged Cardigan // 13. Heart Tights // 14. Tank Top // 15. Sequin Bubble Skirt

Now that we are set up with all these fancy duds, Target suggested I set up a photo shoot at home and see if I could share some tips with you on how to capture Christmas card worthy photos while dealing with a squirmy baby and a toddler who runs at the sight of my camera... "Sure." I said...why not!

I'm not a professional, but I have spent quite a few years learning how to use my camera (here's one like it) and working with what I've got...so here's my recipe for a successful home-based photo shoot:  

  1. PLAN IN ADVANCE:  My house isn't a photo studio, and my camera and lenses are pushing 5 years old. That means that I have to prepare a space in my home ahead of time, one that has adequate natural lighting from a large window, and a blank wall to use as a backdrop. If you can, find a similar place in your home, even if it means moving some furniture out of the way. Decide on outfits and photo props ahead of time, and take some test shots before you get started.

  2. GET HELP + USE BRIBERY:  If you have older kids that can help with wrangling your little ones, or a husband that can lend a hand, use them. Little babies need propping up and toddlers need to be constantly redirected and sometimes physically positioned into place. Have a special treat handy to use as a bargining tool, like candy or TV time as a reward for their cooperation. I let Maggie stay home from school with the condition that she had to be super cooperative and listen nicely. Worked like a charm. Every time she got close to wanting to bail on me, all I had to do was mention school, and she'd be right back at my side, ready to work. 

  3. DONE IS BETTER THAN PERFECT:  My photos are far from technically perfect. They are grainy, blurry, and the shadows are a bit harsh...but, I caught a few moments that were good enough, and that's all you need. If your photos need brightening or the colors to be boosted up a bit, try using an easy photo editor like PicMonkey. 

  4. HAVE FUN: After taking a lot of pictures that weren't what I wanted, we were all a bit tired and ready to be done, the baby was fussy and Maggie started playing with the tinsel...and then she started dancing! PERFECT! I took as many pictures as I could while she giggled and wiggled, and in the end, those dancing photos turned out to be the winners. Maggie is genuinely happy and smiling and Bodie...well, he's a baby. We're just happy he didn't have a blowout. :D 

HolidayPhotoLove

HolidayPhotoShoot_PhotoCard

SUCCESS!!

Now it's your turn to join in the fun! I am giving away a $50 Target Gift Card to help you deck your littles with dapper duds for the holidays! You can enter using the widget below, and the winner will be drawn Friday, December 20th. 

Be sure to follow #MyKindofHoliday and #TargetInnerCircle on Twitter and Instagram this month for more festive fun and holiday inspiration from Target and the rest of the Inner Circle Team. 

xoxoxo
-JP

Full Disclosure: I am a member of the Target® Inner Circle, I was provided a gift card to purchase some of the clothing items shown, however all opinions expressed are my own. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

December 12, 2013 in Craft Projects, Favorite Finds, Kids Stuff, Shopping , Sponsored Posts, Target Inner Circle | Permalink | Comments (38)

Reblog (0) | | | Pin It! |

A Muse Studio | Mint + Red Holiday

IMG_8524

December is here my friends, and that means that crafters everywhere are busy working like elves on their Holiday themed projects- from December Daily albums, to pom-pom garlands, and gingerbread houses to advent calendars! 

Me? Well, I'm working on the feeding and caring of a huge newborn baby, which means that so far, I haven't had any time to get into the crafty fun that I usually love to do when Christmas rolls around. I'm not going to lie, it's really hard for someone like me (aka: crafty control freak ocd decorating shopaholic) to be right in the middle of newborn craziness during the holidays. I wanted the decorations up November 1st...but I was having contractions that day, so instead of coasting into the holiday season like I had planned, I am behind on everything and it's killing me. 

I am trying to be practical and let myself off the hook a bit. Thankfully, I've got last years memories to help me focus on the little things about the holidays that I find really meaningful., like these photos from some of the new traditions we started with Maggie last year, that I added to the Holiday Memory album I made with A Muse Studio products. 

We definitely have our hands full this year, but Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without crafting. :D

StudioPebbles_AMuseSt_Dec_Mint1

StudioPebbles_AMuseSt_Dec_Tag

StudioPebbles_AMuseSt_Dec_Santa

I really kept things simple with this page, because the photos were so bold and colorful and busy, I didn't want to compete with them. I looked for some of the main colors in the photos and created embellishments and chose papers that would compliment and coordinate, like the soft plum of Maggie's shirt and the mint green in the Christmas cookie. I used my favorite A Muse Studio Bow and Heart Trio Dies and some Heather and Apple felt to add some texture and embellishment to my Vintage Lable ornament tag and stamped sentiment.

StudioPebbles_AMuseSt_Dec_Santa2
StudioPebbles_AMuseSt_Dec_Mint2

I love the bold cherry red against the soft ink colors and the shimmer of the silver ink and tiny gems, and I'm a big fan of the fact that A Muse Studio makes Splash mists that perfectly match some of their cardstock colors.  Here I used a ticket die to cut out the stamped image on mint cardstock, and mounted it onto a misted white cardstock background. 

StudioPebbles_AMuseSt_Dec_Mint

I know we'll have to be especially choosy this year when it comes to what we can participate in and have lower expectations for decorating and celebrating. This weekend we'll be going to the local Santa breakfast at the senior center like we did last year, and I know we'll set aside time to bake and decorate cookies with Maggie. I'm sure we'll have plenty of time for laughs and fun, no matter how behind I might feel today.

If you want to see more of my Holiday albums with A Muse Studio, you can find more posts here and here. And, if you're looking for a fun get together with your friends over the holidays, why not find a local A Muse Studio consultant and have a craft party? 

xoxoxo
-JP

FTC Disclosure: A Muse Studio has provided compensation and project supplies in exchange for this series. All opinions and experiences shared are my own. 

December 05, 2013 in Craft Projects, Sponsored Posts | Permalink | Comments (5)

Reblog (0) | | | Pin It! |

Baby Bodie

Well Hello Friends!!

In case you were wondering where I've been for the past month or so, I thought I should pop in and tell you that I had a baby. And not just had a baby, but a nearly 11lb baby! And also, I tried having him the way nature intended. But, after two hours of pushing, that just did not happen.

At 5:49pm on November 2nd, Bodie Fletcher Pebbles was pulled from my uterus (feet first!) by a team of doctors, nurses and an intern via c-section, weighing in at a whopping 10lbs 15oz and 23" in length!

StudioPebbles_BabyBodieMinted(Photo Card design by Minted.com)

Do you want to hear all the gory details? Because I'm about to tell you...it was a horrendous mess peeps. I did not handle things gracefully at all.

First: Did you know that I was on bed rest for about the last two weeks before my due date? I had pregnancy induced hypertension. My blood pressure was awesome, as long as I was laying down or seriously reclining...otherwise, it was through the roof. So, even though I had a to-do list to complete, I could only get to a few things. I made a tufted upholstered headboard with my Mom while on the couch (!) and also made our Halloween costumes. We dressed up as a family of dorks, like we do every year. :)

IMG_1081

IMG_1162

IMG_1135dbl

(Little Red Riding Hood, The Woodsman, The Big Bad Wolf and Grandma in her belly.)

I really, really wanted to dress up my belly for Halloween, for some dumb reason. If only I could predict the future, I would have dumped that idea. I was huge. I thought there was a 98% chance I was secretly pregnant with twins. 

IMG_0826-copyDbl

IMG_0885-copy

The day after Halloween, I went to my weekly appointment, now technically a couple days overdue. My doctor "checked me", stripped my membranes (ouch) and was happy to report that I was 3cm and thinning, but the little dude was still waaay high up. She asked if I wanted to induce if I didn't go into labor, and I said yes. I was ready to get him out and get on with it and since Maggie was 9 days late and I didn't have any contractions at all with her, I figured same would happen with him. This was on a Friday, we decided to induce on Sunday, so we could have one last day to do stuff with Maggie, clean house and relax.

Isn't that cute...

I ran some errands, bought some lamps at Target, gave myself a couple hours away from the purgatory of my sofa to try to get some things done. We got home kind of late, I sat down and watched a movie...

I started having contractions at 11pm. They were mild-ish at first, but it didn't take long for me to start to worry that we weren't going to get our "day off"...I know how it is. Life is a sneaky bitch.

Around 11:30pm, I started barking orders at John and speed nesting.

At about 1am, we were in bed trying to get some rest, and I was timing my contractions using my iPhone. I didn't get any sleep, but hey!- new lamps in the bedroom and hospital bags packed!

Contractions are a weird thing. I felt 100% that this was the real deal, but my doctor said 60 seconds, 5 mins apart. It was frustrating me that some of my contractions were following this pattern, but not consistently. I had zero intention of having a "natural" childbirth, so I was ready for that epidural now.

At 3am, I told John, "Fuck it. We're going now!"

We woke up my Mom and had her move into our room so that she'd be right there when Maggie woke up, then we attempted to say goodbye to her, but it was 3am...she was comatose and didn't understand what was going on...but at least I got to kiss her and tell her I loved her in case I died.

Thank god that the hospital was only 10 mins away, because that car ride sucked. I was hurting. It was not fun.

Then we got to our hospital and they set me up in the "we need to make sure you're really in labor" room, and we hunkered down through about 30 more minutes of strong and painful contractions until they got all the proof they needed, and then it was off to the delivery room for my IV and my epidural! YAY!

Only....

That didn't go so smoothly.

I went in at 4cms. I was fully in labor, not happy to still be feeling everything, when the first nurse attempted to put in my IV.

You know how they ask, "What's your pain level, on a scale between 1-10?" That first needle jab into my hand was an 11. Holy balls. It's a special kind of torture to be stabbed at the same time your body is trying to expel a baby.

First try? Fail.

Second try? Fail.

Third try? Fail. (But at least this time they started with a numbing shot first.)

Fourth try? Fail. Fifth time? Fail.

At this point, I am bawling from the pain, full blown freaking out that I am about to have an un-medicated birth, we've had three nurses attempt to find a vein in both hands and my arms with zero success (Apparently, high blood pressure makes your veins very uncooperative. Be prepared for this ladies, just in case. Don't try to be a bad ass and say, I don't need the numbing shot first, because hell yes you do.) It was now time to call the anesthesiologist to have her try. Last hope.

6 tries later, and one massive pool of blood everywhere, SUCCESS!! Holy shit people, I've never been happier in my life then when that epidural kicked in. I went until 6cms un-medicated (and tortured!) and that was something I never, ever, intended or planned for. You natural Mamas...I both bow to you and think you're nuts at the same time. :)

I'd like to say that at this point, the drama was over, but no. Only a break. I labored painlessly past 10cms, and we kept letting the contractions come to get him lower and closer to a +1 or 2. Then it was time to push.

IMG_1212-copy

I pushed and pushed. I couldn't feel a thing, but god damn, I gave it my all. My nurse cheered me on like a champ, and I pushed until I thought I could finally feel maybe a little bit of pressure...and then pushed some more!

I thought things were going great, because they kept telling me I was doing great! Who knew? 2 hours later, no progress. When my doctor told me that we needed to stop pushing and go have a c-section, I was 100% calm and totally fine. No problem, it happens! Lets do it! And that's when they started prepping me and getting everything ready, including unplugging my epidural.

That was the part that snuck up on me...when 20 mins later, I all of a sudden could feel everything I wasn't feeling before. You know, the BURN. That is exactly when I began panicking. Why was I feeling this? Was I going to feel the incision? What the effing hell was happening? Panic.

By the time they had me strapped down on that table, I was 90% unglued. The other 10% came when I started puking.

I wish I could remember all the chatter during the procedure, especially once they were in and trying to get him out. He had progressed further than my doctor thought, and she couldn't get his head out from where I'd been squeezing it for 2hrs...so they literally had to pull him out of my uterus by his feet, and yank his head out like a cork. AWESOME!

IMG_1301-copy

IMG_1290

IMG_1307

And he was huge! And I lost 2 liters of blood! And the puking and bawling and total loss of composure! And there is nothing like feeling your insides being rearranged, that's some lovely stuff. I will give a big shout out to my anesthesiologist, she was a rock star. She comforted me and held up my puke pan and kept my IV full of all kinds of awesome drugs to get me through it. Love her.

John was totally with Bodie and the nurses while they stitched me up, and I'm so glad he was, because I was such a mess. I was nothing at all like those ladies on TV who smile for a picture with their new baby and scrubs-wearing husband. I remember vividly hoping with all my might that no one would approach me with my baby for fear I would puke on him. And right about that time is when I got the shakes.

IMG_1310-copy

I knew absolutely nothing about the shakes. No one had ever told me about this part. Calling it "the shakes" sounds nicer than "going into shock." What kind of special hell did I sign up for? I laid on the gurney shaking so hard I thought my teeth were going to fall out. I could barely speak, and I couldn't hold Bodie at all, so they had to put him on the bed, between my legs, to get us all back to my recovery room. I vibrated my new baby all the way down the hall. I shook uncontrollably for the next hour, possibly longer. My poor in-laws, who'd been sitting in the waiting room all day had to go home without seeing Bodie or me because I could not keep it together. Oh the effing shakes. If you are going to be having a c-section, consider this your public service announcement.

Sometime around 8 or 9pm, I had stopped shaking, I could finally hold my sweet boy, and speak coherently without crying. We were wheeled to our new room (new hospital = nice!) where we spent the next three glorious days eating pudding and jello and then room service, snuggling our mega baby, hanging out with the new big sis and deciding on a name. If I could have stayed all week, I would have.

IMG_1457-copy

IMG_1442-copy

And now here we are, one month later and we're all doing well and recovering nicely! I'm smitten with my huge baby. He is super mellow, until he's not, then he fires up his sirens and does the full-on red faced, quiet baby scream cry. Fortunately for us, he only does that when we change his diaper or put him in the car seat or drive too slow. He is sleeping pretty well now, so we are a bit more rested than we were.

John is once again killing it in the Dad/Husband department. One night, about a week in, I was so exhausted and worn out, I couldn't wake up to feed the baby, so he did the entire night shift, got Maggie off to school and then went to work. He is "the" swaddler, so he gets up after I feed Bodie to put him back to bed. He is amazing. He's really helped Maggie through the transition, it's been a bit hard for her, but she doesn't let it show very often. She loves Bodie a ton and is always wanting to kiss and love on him, which is wonderful. I miss her like crazy and I don't enjoy being the bad cop/fun police when it comes to boundaries, but I know this too shall pass.

IMG_1336

IMG_1354

As for me, I have been up and down, but mostly just resigned to minimal activity and trying not to stress too much about the things that are falling through the cracks. This past Thanksgiving weekend ended up being a great trip away where my in-laws took turns snuggling the baby and entertaining Maggie while I got to have a break and form a thought, so that was nice. Now I'm home again trying to figure out my immediate to-do list and get the Christmas decorations up. I have a couple blog posts to share, but it will be kinda quiet again until I get back into the groove.

So now we're a family of four, and it is much harder, but so amazing to have another sweet kiddo to love and I'm so excited to get to know him and watch him grow.

StudioPebbles_FamilyFour

xoxoxo
-JP

 

December 01, 2013 in Everyday Life | Permalink | Comments (28)

Reblog (0) | | | Pin It! |

Introducing: Spooky Halloween by Studio Pebbles

StudioPebbles_SpookyHalloween_Flair_2

Check the sky for flying pigs!
(I think I have used that line before...hmmm...need new material.)

I just added some *NEW* products to my Etsy shop: the Spooky Halloween collection includes 3-sets of printable journaling/PL cards and a set of 10 Flair Badges for paper crafting.

StudioPebbles_SpookyHalloween_HappyHalloween_PRVW

StudioPebbles_SpookyHalloween_HelloPumpkin_PRVW

StudioPebbles_SpookyHalloween_SimplySpooky_PRVW

I have been trying to get back to regular product design, so this is a big achievement for me folks! Halloween is one of the most fun holidays to design products for, and as you can see by the number of cards I made, that I just couldn't stop at one set. I have favorites in each one, but I'm really partial to that ghost for some reason. :D 

Even though the house is torn up with all of our projects, Maggie and I did manage to haul out the Halloween decor and craft box and slapped up some decorations:

StudioPebbles_HalloweenDecor2013_Mantle

StudioPebbles_HalloweenDecor2013_Mantle2

StudioPebbles_HalloweenDecor2013_Pumpkin

StudioPebbles_HalloweenDecor2013_TopShelf

StudioPebbles_HalloweenDecor2013_Tree

After the "grown-up" decorations went up, I realized that it didn't make for much fun for Maggie...she decorated her stuffed dog with random supplies while I hung garland, and she was bored in about 4 minutes.

Looking for an ongoing project,  I had John haul out our little white Christmas tree. Now, when we need something to do together, I haul out the craft box and we make ornaments for it. I've saved tons of Halloween themed scrapbooking supplies from years past and have a whole bin full of goodies for us to work from from (Oh Making Memories, you had some gooooood stuff!!)  I've also commandeered paper straws, tinsel topped drink stirrers, crepe paper streamers, twine, buttons, felt and yarn to add to the supply box.

I love it.

Maggie has fun with it, and I get to have a hands-on creative moment... it makes us both pretty darn happy. 

Don't forget...there is still time to enter my Target® Ticket $25 Gift Card Giveaway! 

xoxoxo
-JP 

 

October 16, 2013 in Craft Projects, Digital + Print Products, Graphic Design, Interiors, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (3)

Reblog (0) | | | Pin It! |

A Muse Studio | Halloween Album

I cannot FATHOM that today is October 15th. 

Let's forget for a brief moment (very brief) that I am currently trying not to have an early baby...I can't believe that Halloween is only 2 short weeks away!! I have to get Maggie to the Pumpkin Patch ASAP!! 

I've been sharing some pages I've made using A Muse Studio products; today I am sharing a few more from my Halloween memory album. I have really enjoyed putting this together. It has really reminded me to get out an enjoy the holiday in the weeks leading up to it, rather than trying to pack all the fun into a couple of days.

StudioPebbles_AMuseStudio_Halloween2013_1

  StudioPebbles_AMuseStudio_Halloween2013_2

StudioPebbles_AMuseStudio_Halloween2013_3

StudioPebbles_AMuseStudio_Halloween2013_4

StudioPebbles_AMuseStudio_Halloween2013_5

StudioPebbles_AMuseStudio_Halloween2013_6

Halloween is on a Thursday this year, which means it's a Pre-School day for Maggie...I'm debating keeping her home to celebrate like we did last year, with some fun activities and crafts and an awesome breakfast of Pumpkin Pancakes! 

Last year, we were a family of witches...and this year our costume plans are largely dependant on whether or not we'll be packing around an infant outside or inside of Mommy. I really hope he stays put, because we have a belly idea that's kinda awesome, and I haven't seen it done yet. Keep your fingers crossed for me! 

StudioPebbles_AMuseStudio_Halloween2013_8

StudioPebbles_AMuseStudio_Halloween2013_7

StudioPebbles_AMuseStudio_Halloween2013_10

StudioPebbles_AMuseStudio_Halloween2013_11

I didn't take many great photos last year on Halloween, most were just Instagram photos with filters...which made my pictures look more navy than black...so, rather than fight it, this spread of photos is navy and red...I think it works! 

I am still digging these tiny pearl enamel dot stickers, I put them on a few pictures to make spooky looking eyes. I showed Maggie the eyes in the woods, and I have to say...it freaked her out a smidge! Success!! And of course, the red Splash mist...what is creepier than that? 

Let's hope I get the chance to take our family out to the Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival at a local farm, so I can add even more photos and memories to my Halloween album! And don't forget to check out the inspiration on the A Muse Studio blog, Instagram, Facebook page, and scoop up some of these fun products on their site or by hosting a party with your local A Muse Studio consultant! 

xoxoxo
-JP 

FTC Disclosure: A Muse Studio has provided compensation and project supplies in exchange for this series. All opinions and experiences shared are my own.  

October 15, 2013 in Craft Projects, Shopping , Sponsored Posts | Permalink | Comments (1)

Reblog (0) | | | Pin It! |

Target Ticket + Giveaway

We're on the home stretch of "Baby Watch" and I have to tell you, as I type this from my bed, that things are moving just a little bit faster than we'd hoped!

We've been super busy working on our to-do list, and have managed to get some projects well on the way to done! Maggie's new room and loft bed have been put together, but still need to be "finished" with decorations, organizing toys and books, etc. The computer desk/shelving has replaced the toy area in the living room, our bedroom furniture has been rearranged and there are some Halloween decorations up...however, while that sounds like great progress, there are piles and bins and random discarded furniture items EVERYWHERE, we don't have our baby bed yet or diapers or baby blankets...or a name picked out... and I might be leaking amniotic fluid...

So, yeah...panic. 

Anyway, I can't have a baby without first sharing another awesome Target® product with you, and of course, another GIVEAWAY! 

Target® has just introduced a new digital video-on-demand service called Target® Ticket! It's compatible with a variety of media players, including Windows and Mac computers, iPad, Android, XBOX 360, Roku, Samsung TV's and Blu-Ray Players, etc. I had the opportunity to test it out over the weekend and when I logged in, I was met with the best surprise: 

StudioPebbles_MU_TargetTicket

When I took Maggie to her first movie in a theater this summer, our choice was Monsters University...she was already a big fan of Monsters. Inc...so it was a no-brainer that she'd be excited to see it. Well, aside from a moment or two where she was a little scared, she LOVED it! All she talked about for months afterwards, was Mike and Sully, and Monsters University. 

When I logged in to Target® Ticket, the first thing I saw staring back at me was this: 

StudioPebbles_TargetTicket

I couldn't press "BUY" fast enough! 

There are only going to be so many uninterrupted moments for Maggie and I to enjoy together before the new baby arrives, and I am so glad I had this chance to treat her to something special and totally unexpected. 

Signing up for Target® Ticket is really a breeze, you do that by visiting the site and creating an account. Movies and TV shows are available to buy and there are also rentals available- some as low as $1! Currently, Target® Ticket is running a sale on some awesome DreamWorks movies, like Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda, with titles as low as $6.99! 

I chose to use the iPad for watching our new purchase, and all it takes is downloading the Target® Ticket app from the App Store, logging in, and your movie is ready to play. We watched it together on Friday, and then with Daddy and Oma again on Saturday night, (this time we used my laptop and connected it to the TV with the HDMI cable. If our Roku player wasn't at the beach house, we'd have used it instead, but it was no problem doing it this way, and we all loved it) and Maggie finally got to share her beloved story with her whole family! 

I could be sitting in this bed for a few days trying to buy myself a bit more time, and I plan to put my new Target® Ticket account into good use with a few new release rentals. I'm thinking Great Gatsby and The Heat will be first on my list. And speaking of Roku, did you know that the Roku 3 player has an enhanced remote with headphone jack so you can watch your show without disturbing sleeping toddlers?! I'm thinking this is a must have for our house! 

Now it's your turn to get a chance to try Target® Ticket! I have a $25 Target® Gift Card to giveaway to TWO of my readers! You can enter using the widget below (this is my first time using Rafflecopter, so let me know if it's not working correctly). Winners will be drawn next Monday, the 21st. Good Luck!! 

xoxoxo
-JP 

Full Disclosure: I am a member of the Target® Inner Circle, I was provided a gift card to try Target® Ticket, however all opinions expressed are my own. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

October 14, 2013 in Everyday Life, Shopping , Sponsored Posts, Target Inner Circle, Technology and Gadgets | Permalink | Comments (47)

Reblog (0) | | | Pin It! |

More Posts »

Search


  • Follow on Bloglovin

Archives

  • October 2014
  • June 2014
  • February 2014
  • December 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013

More...