I have had a lot of people ask me how the cloth diapering is going and how to get started - so I thought I would post here so I can refer back later :) This was something I typed up for a former bride who is due in September. Does anyone think there is a baby boom going on right now? I think there is and I blame the economy! lol Luke was the 2nd to last baby born at the hospital on 3/31, and it was a record number of births for the hospital that month. The nurses didn't have an exact number for me, but they said a normal month was 40-45 babies, and they were inching up on 70 once we got there! Plus I have noticed a ton of my brides, and former schoolmates that are pregnant right now, older on average I would think. But I digress...

Cloth is going great! It is really so much easier than I thought it was going to be!

First of all, if you haven't already, I highly recommend joining your birth month group, and the cloth diapering group at http://www.babycenter.com/ That site is PACKED with information, and really helped me answer just about any question I could possibly come up with.

I also recommend starting a baby registry on Amazon. Even if you don't tell anyone about it, you can research and read reviews about the products and put them on your registry, so you can buy things there as you want to, compare prices, and don't have search for stuff and remember everything when it comes time to buy stuff. I am still buying stuff that I put on mine as it becomes necessary, because you don't need everything right away.

I am using cloth during the day while Josh is at work, and disposables at night, so he will change them. lol I'll get him into it soon.

There are basically 4 kinds of cloth diapers, All in ones (AIO), Fitted, Pocket, and Prefolds. AIO's are the easiest, and closest to using a sposie, because you just put it on and fasten it. Fitteds are about the same, but need a waterproof cover, so they are a two part system. Pocket diapers have a pocket that you slide one or more absorbant liners into, but are waterproof on the outside, so no cover needed. Prefolds are what our parents used basically, they are what most people think of when you tell them you are using cloth diapers. You can buy those in different sizes, and they need the waterproof covers too. I recommend against the Gerber birdseye ones you see at Target and such. Those are great for burp rags, but they aren't as absorbant as the other kind and they are bulkier too.

I'll link you to what I have liked best so far. I think its a good idea to buy one of each style to start and see what you like best. We used disposables full time until his umbilical cord fell off at about 2 weeks.

AIO: Kushies - I just got these, they were a good deal, but I think they run a little large, and they are a little "stiff." I am holding off judgement until he gets a little bigger. The nice thing about these is, they have a liner that is attached at one end, that you can fold to the middle if you have a girl, or to the front for a boy. And since it isn't attached all the way, they dry faster than most AIO's.

http://www.amazon.com/Kushies-Reusable-Ultra-Diapers-Infants/dp/B0000649E1/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1273617524&sr=1-1

Pocket: Happy Heiny's

http://www.amazon.com/Happy-Heinys-Pocket-Diaper-Large/dp/B000KAHIFK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1273617072&sr=8-1

FuzziBunz:

http://www.amazon.com/FuzziBunz-Cloth-Diaper-Apple-Green/dp/B002OL1TTO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1273617463&sr=1-1

The fitteds I am using they aren't making anymore I don't think... But I have one of these too and like it a lot:

http://www.amazon.com/Thirsties-Fab-Fitted-Cloth-Diaper/dp/B001W0XYXM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1273617718&sr=1-1

Covers for fitted or prefolds:

http://www.amazon.com/Bummis-Whisper-Diaper-WHITE-15-30lbs/dp/B001B9ZIW4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1273617821&sr=1-3

I bought the prefolds at a store in Portland. I think this is their online shop - http://shop.milagrosboutique.com/

I also use flushable, biodegradable liners so the diapers don't get so poopy. Its nice, you just put one in and throw away the poop. We have sprayers on both of our toilets, which we still may use as his poop changes, but this is SO easy!!

http://www.amazon.com/Kushies-Flushable-Biodgradable-Diaper-Liners/dp/B000V0QTMC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1273618332&sr=1-1

Overall, I think the prefolds were unnessessary. They are the cheapest choice, but if you don't mind doing a load of laundry everyday, its possible to just do the other kind, and just buy a few here and there until the baby gets here. My mom kind of talked me into them - but I think that was because she didn't know how far cloth had come. She reaches for the pockets first now :)
They are GREAT for burp rags though! So I am glad I bought them.

Most recently I have discovered Sunbaby diapers on Ebay. They are new pocket diapers and are super cheap. I think I got 10 with 10 liners for less than $50. They wash and dry the best, and the covers can be used as covers for the fitted or prefolds too.

The other confusing thing is sizes. There are "one-size" and sized diapers. The fitteds I have are sized, I have 5 each of small, medium and large. I think they smalls will only last another couple weeks because he is a moose... lol The one size diapers have snaps which you use to fit them to your baby.

Snaps vs Velco (aka Aplix) is another debate. The consensus is that the snaps may last longer - through multiple children, but the velcro is easier to use and its easier to fit the kid in them more tightly. I think the velcro is easy, and so long as you remember to close the tabs before you wash them, it doesn't hook up to everything.

Oh gosh, and one more thing, laundry detergent. You can't use most normal laundry soap because it leaves a film which makes the diapers not as absorbant, and they get stinky. I think this is what I got:

http://www.amazon.com/Charlies-Soap-Powder-2-64-Loads/dp/B0018B15FE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1273618685&sr=8-1

This one a lot of people use too:

http://rockingreensoap.com/

Washing is easy, but a little more labor intensive than normal laundry. I do a prewash with cold water and a scoop of detergent (I think its about a tablespoon) then a cycle on hot with a scoop of detergent along with an extra rinse and fast spin cycle (both extra choices on my washer.) I dry them with a dry towel in the dryer to get them dry a little faster. I take out the pocket diapers and covers after one run-through. AIOs and fitteds take an extra cycle.

If you want to see this stuff in real life, there is a cloth diaper store in Corvallis, but its never been open when I have been through town.

http://www.weebunz.com/index.php

I've bought a few things at Bambini in Eugene:

http://www.bambinieugene.com/

Good luck! It makes me feel so much better to at least be making a little bit of an effort to not put so much into the landfill. :)

I can't believe its been a week. A week ago today I was terrified beyond words. We barely slept the night before. I cried for most of the drive to the hospital. While I sat in the prep room I calmed down as I saw the doctors, nurses and anesthesiologist getting ready I calmed down a little, but got nervous again as I left Josh and they wheeled me back into the OR.

It seemed like forever that I was in the OR without him, getting the shots to numb me from the waist down. My nurse Josh (whose wife's name is also Angela!) was fabulous, holding onto me while the shots went in. I thought there would only be one, but there were many! I was laid back down and they started to prep me, it was all going so fast that I thought Josh wasn't going to make it back there in time! Just as they were about to make the first incision - Josh was brought into the room and sat down next to me. Everyone knew we didn't know what we were having, so I asked out in the room "Any bets on what it is?" Nurse Josh very confidently said, "Its going to be a boy." Everyone chuckled and the surgery got underway.

The anesthesiologist peeked over the drape and gave us the play by play. "only a few minutes now" "I see a foot" Josh and I stared at each other, tears in our eyes. Josh told me how proud he was of me. "The baby is out" said the anesthesiologist, and nurse Josh said "I was right!" Josh wasn't sure what he was referring to and asked for clarification, and our doctor said "Its a boy!" right as Luke started crying. They gave me a quick peek over the drape before they whisked him away to the warming table. Josh followed and took pictures for us.



After he was a little cleaner, they laid him on my chest for a few brief moments. He was so close to my face, that I couldn't focus on him very well, but I knew he was perfect.

After a few moments of this, the nurses took Luke and Josh away to the nursery while I stayed in the OR and got stitched up the rest of the way. After a few minutes a phone call came into the OR with the official weight - 10 lbs 3 oz! Everyone in the room oohed and ahhed when the nurse read off his weight. Josh was in the room at the other end of the call and the nurse there remarked at how everyone reacted! The Dr remarked that with a baby that big, (not just by weight, but also nearly 23" long and a head 15.5" in diameter!) that I probably would have ended up in the same position even if he had been head down.


I don't feel like I was "cheated" out of a normal birth experience, because my birth plan from the beginning was always "get the baby out," period. But, it is weird. I wrote in a Facebook status update that I was going to be headed to the hospital to "get a baby handed to me" and thats basically what happened, and I couldn't be happier! I knew from about 5-6 months that I was going to end up getting a c-section. His head was in the same spot from the moment I could feel him from the outside, and *never* moved. He likes his head rubbed, and I have to wonder if it reminds him of me rubbing it from the outside. :)

Josh and I stayed in the hospital together for three nights. It was so nice to hang out as a family, and be taken care of for a few days before heading back to the real world.

We're home now - thank you so much to everyone for the kind words, flowers, gifts - everyone has been so wonderful!

The morning after my baby shower in Portland, Traci and I set off for downtown and took a few maternity shots :) I love them - thank you so much Traci!

Baby shower #2 was thrown by my BFF Traci in Portland! I was so excited - almost everyone who was invited came! Including my mama and sister who flew up from Palm Springs! :)

One of the activities was decorating onesies with fabric paint! I have so many awesome onesies from it!


I love this blanket made for me by my friend Sheri :)


Sheris SIL Carrie made me a beautiful baby carrier - it is so perfect! I can't wait to use it for real - check out her Etsy site, I think she makes them custom!



Thank you to Traci for an awesome perfect day! :)

A couple new pics for 34 weeks! :)

One of things I am doing to get ready for baby is making and freezing food. Buying meat in bulk and making double batches of things. This soup is SO yummy! It makes a HUGE batch - so I half it for dinner, or have half for one meal and freeze the rest, leaving out the pasta and spinach for the frozen batch.

You can prepare soup through step 2 up to 1 day ahead, but do not bring mixture to a boil; instead, cool, cover, and chill. To reheat, lift off and discard fat; bring soup to a boil.

Yield: Makes about 5 1/2 quarts; 10 to 12 servings

Italian Sausage and Pasta Soup from Sunset Magazine

Ingredients

• 2 pounds hot or mild Italian sausages (or spicy bulk sausage)
  
• 3 carrots (12 oz. total), peeled and chopped
• 1 onion (12 oz.), peeled and chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
• 3 quarts fat-skimmed chicken broth
• 2 cans (14 1/2 oz. each) diced tomatoes
• 2 cans (15 oz. each) cannellini (white) beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 2 cups dried large shell-shaped pasta
• 4 quarts spinach leaves (about 12 oz.), rinsed
• Salt and pepper
• About 1 cup grated parmesan cheese

Preparation

1. Squeeze sausages from casings into an 8- to 10-quart pan over high heat and stir often, breaking them apart with a spoon, until browned and crumbly, 8 to 10 minutes. Spoon out and discard all but 1 tablespoon fat from pan.

2. Add carrots, onion, and garlic; stir often until onion is limp, 5 to 7 minutes. Add broth, tomatoes (including juice), beans, and basil and bring to a boil.

3. Add pasta, reduce heat, and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until pasta is just tender to bite, about 10 minutes. Skim and discard fat. Stir in spinach and cook just until it is wilted, about 30 seconds. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve soup from the pan, or pour into a tureen. Offer parmesan cheese to add to taste.

Last weekend I headed down to Southern California for a dentist appointment to replace my front teeth! Yay! Pretty teeth! :) On Sunday my fabulous family threw me my first baby shower!


We played a fun "concentration" type game where you had to match the clue with the name of the candy bar. For this one, it was Milky Way, and Breast feeding :)


Loved this present from my cousins! They attached all of the presents to a clothes line with clothespins - super cute!


So many of the fabulous women of my family!

30 weeks - 3/4 done!

29 weeks! Getting bigger!

Third Trimester! 2/3 done! :)


I am up 8lbs from my pre-preg weight, and all is well! Feeling movement every day, although as soon as Josh puts his hand on my belly to feel it, it stops - lil' bugger! The doctor says that must mean that he is a calming influence, lol

It started with a Facebook status update. A friend of mine posted that she was eating a red velvet cupcake and I made the mistake of reading it out loud, saying I was jealous. Joshes immediate response, "Can you make those right now?" Um, no. But I made them the next day :)

He was very impressed with the bright red batter:

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe courtesy Paula Deen, 2007

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons red food coloring
• 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting:

• 1 pound cream cheese, softened
• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• Chopped pecans and fresh raspberries or strawberries, for garnish

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with cupcake papers.

In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In a large bowl gently beat together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla with a handheld electric mixer. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined.

Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake tins about 2/3 filled. Bake in oven for about 20 to 22 minutes, turning the pans once, half way through. Test the cupcakes with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy.

Garnish with chopped pecans and a fresh raspberry or strawberry.

Cook's Note: Frost the cupcakes with a butter knife or pipe it on with a big star tip.

23 weeks - a little bigger, but I am still the same weight as pre-baby. I was down 10 after the first trimester, but have been slowly gaining it back...


Not feeling a ton of movement, but a little here and there, mostly on my left side - must be where it is able to get through around the placenta! I get a few good kicks, especially in the evening after dinner, but I don't think anyone on the outside would be able to feel it quite yet.

Cloth diapers have been my obsession for a few weeks now. My mom and my Aunt Cathy have been very pro-cloth since the beginning and I thought they were crazy. While my mom wanted me to do a diaper service, thats not available here in BFE anymore, so I started looking into doing it myself - and OMG there are a LOT of choices!! Plus, I haven't even started yet, and already have nay-sayers, "Oh, that will last about a week" I have never been afraid of failing - but please let me have a chance to try first! Sheesh!

I remember Amber talking about cloth diapering about a year ago, and how one of the reasons she and BJ were doing it was because BJ hated the feel of disposable diapers. I didn't really think about it at the time, but looking back, it struck a chord with me - I hate them too! The thought of putting all that plastic in the landfills makes me feel bad (and I am not particularly "earthy" in any other way) and, since I am going to be at home with this little one most of the time, I don't have the luxury of needing that convienience. Trust me though, if I were working full time, I would be stocking up on disposables like there was no tomorrow right now!

Now, because I live in the middle of nowhere, I haven't gotten to see any of these in real life, except for the few I have purchased online already. I am hoping a trip to Portland next week remedies that - I am looking forward to checking out Wee Bunz in Corvallis, and thanks to a bunch of coupons I won on Ebay, a trip to Babies R Us to stock up on gDiapers - one of my choices:

gDiapers are a cloth/disposal hybrid. The outside is cloth, the inside liner is plastic and holds either a prefold diaper/cloth liner, or a biodegradable/flushable liner. The disposable liners can be composted/or flushed, or will degrade in 50 days in the landfill. My thought right now is to use cloth and make my own liners for home, and use the disposable liners for when we are on the road or at Grandma's house.

I have ten of these heading my way - BumGenius Bamboo fitted Diaper:


They get great reviews, and were cheap, so I couldn't pass them up!

I have a few more on my registry that I am hoping to see in person soon - my plan for the newborn days is to use Indian Prefold diapers with Thirsties covers:


Of course things may change, but I don't see any child created my Josh and myself to be small in anyway, shape, or form - so I am trying not to go crazy with the teeny tiny sizes, because I am sure they will be in them for a week, two max!! lol

Other brands I am considering are BumGenius 3.0 One Size:
And Fuzzi Bunz one size:



So, I think that's it for now - there are SO many choices, lots of handmade brands too! But I think I will try all of these out and see what I like best before I venture into that world! Wish me luck, and of course comment below if you have insight!

22 weeks today! I need to remember to have Josh take a pic when he comes home for lunch! I want to have this as a pregnancy diary of sorts, so here are a couple pics that have been sitting on my desktop for a while:

This was getting the ultrasound a few weeks back - I look SO much bigger laying down apparently!


And getting my H1N1 shot a few weeks before that! Josh and my dad were really on my case to get it - I was calling all around the state trying to track one down, I ended up getting it at my OBs office during my regularly scheduled appointment anyway!


Next up on the topic of obsessive research and discussion - cloth diapers!

20 weeks! Halfway through!

Couldn't help myself!


I bought this shirt from this adorable Etsy seller Winney & Bea that I found through Megan Duerksen's blog Whatever - this is one of those blogs that I read all the time - and I have no idea how I found it, but its in my google reader! lol And so glad for it now :)

Its a....... BABY!


Glad its still in there - I apparently have an anterior placenta - meaning that the placenta is between my skin and the baby, so that's why I haven't felt much movement.

The little one wasn't very cooperative at the ultrasound, so I may have to go back for a second one, depending on if the doctor likes all the angles that they were able to get. The tech had us turn our heads when she scanned down to the "danger" zone - although from what she was saying, it has its little legs crossed and wasn't being helpful in that area anyways, so we probably wouldn't have been able to find out the sex even if we had wanted to. The techs were so supportive about us not finding out - even saying that they don't like to even see what it is if we don't :)

Well if there is something I know I *can* do - its shop!

I have finally discovered the beauty and fabulousness that is Goodwill :) Now, don't get me wrong, I have always like thrift shopping, but I have to go in looking for something specific in order to not get overwhelmed. Plus, I have always been so good at shopping at places like Ross and TJ Maxx, that I've found that the sale prices there aren't really much more than the regular prices at GW.

Until now. Goldmine of Goodwill? Baby clothes! My god. New, barely used clothes for practically nothing!! Traci and I braved the mother ship - the Goodwill Outlet in Sellwood, where everything is unsorted in bins, and sold by the pound!!

This is what 16.5 pounds of baby clothes looks like! For $22! Traci turned out to be REALLY good at this, it took a while to get her warmed up to the concept, but once she was going, we went through every bin!

I am on load 3 of washing, pressing and sorting right now. We wern't picky as to whether it was girl/boy/non-gender specific, so I am sorting in those bins as I go. I'm leaving out the non-gender stuff, and will put away whatever I don't need for next time, or for my SIL Kate who is (hopefully) going to have another one soon!

My MIL warned me that I shouldn't buy too many clothes or else people won't be able to buy anything for the baby. I assured her that there are never too many clothes, and if I have to change outfits every hour, it will be done in the name of fashion :) Poor kid.

So as the wedding season wraps up, I find myself trying to figure out how to keep myself busy. I'm thinking I should be doing more to get ready for the baby to get here! So, any advice? I'm a little crafty, I know how to sew and even have a great machine around here somewhere :) I signed up for a quilting class at the local quilt store in December.

Since we're not finding out what we're having, it makes it a little more challenging to do super cute boy/girl things. I was thinking about a scrapbook, sewing blankets, etc.

Any suggestions?

Yup Yup!! Its about time huh? :)

Since discovering it at Trader Joes many years ago, Vodka Sauce has been one of our favorite things. When I stumbled upon this recipe, I knew I had to try it out. Trust me when I say I don't like onions or tomatoes... but I loved this. :)

Ingredients:

2 cloves garlic
1 lg. shallot
1/4 yellow onion
1 Tbs. butter and 1 Tbs. Vegetable oil
1 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes, drained
3 fresh tomatoes, chopped
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 C. Half and Half
1/4 C. vodka
1/2 Bag of Rigatoni

1/2 Lb Shrimp

Directions

In a saucepan, brown garlic, shallots and onion in olive oil, about 5 minutes. Add canned tomatoes, fresh tomatoes and crushed red pepper. Mix and let cook on medium to high heat for 5-10 minutes. Add half and half and vodka and stir. Let cook for 5-10 minutes. If the mixture doesn’t thicken, quickly stir in 1 Tbs. flour. Keep heated until serving.

Saute the shrimp in butter and garlic. Serve over cooked penne or rigatoni or pasta of your choice. I chose to put the noodles and sauce in a baking dish - cover in grated Parmesan cheese and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, sprinkling on the shrimp with about 5 minutes left.

So I recently broke from my hardline against Apple products and got an iPhone. My defense being, it really is the coolest phone out there. I compared all of the similar phones out there and it won hands down. That, and, EVERY person I am related to within a 10 mile radius, along with my husband, has one... and I was bored when I was with them all and they were playing with their phones.

Long story short, I asked on Facebook for app suggestions, and one of them was BigOven (http://www.bigoven.com/) I knew I had moved a couple Pork Chops out of the freezer and into the fridge this morning, so I typed in "Pork Chops" into the search and this the first one that came up.

De-LISH! Hands down winner according to Josh too! (I used vegetable oil for the frying part, because I was out of Olive, and I added some Feta that I had in the fridge to the parmesan)

Garlic - Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops

These savory pork chops come out juicy, tender, and are complimented wonderfully by the parmesan, sage and garlic. This great dish can stand alone without needing a sauce or gravy to flavor it...and makes an easy dinner in less than an hour.

• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 (1/2-inch thick) center-cut loin pork chops (bone-in or boneless)
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 3/4 cups Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup dried seasoned bread crumbs (I use Progresso garlic and herb)
• Olive oil (for shallow frying)
• 4 large cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
• Lemon wedges, for serving
• Parsley sprigs, to garnish

Spread Parmesan cheese in a shallow dish. Beat eggs with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in another shallow dish. Spread bread crumbs in a third shallow dish.

Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels. Combine salt, pepper, sage, and thyme, and sprinkle generously over both sides of chops, pressing seasonings into meat with your fingers. Bread pork chops one at a time. Dredge seasoned chops in Parmesan cheese, coating both sides completely, patting to adhere. Then, using tongs, carefully dip both sides of chops in egg mixture, letting excess drip back into dish to ensure thin coating. Finally, dip both sides of chops in bread crumbs, pressing crumbs with fingers to form an even, cohesive coating. Place breaded chops on wire rack set over baking sheet, allow coating to dry for about 5 minutes. (The recipe can be done ahead to this point; cover chops loosely with wax paper and refrigerate for up to one hour.)

Heat a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-low heat with enough olive oil to come halfway up the sides of the chops, about 1/4 cup. To flavor oil; stir in garlic, and cook until lightly browned. Remove garlic from skillet and discard or reserve for other uses. Increase heat to medium. When oil shimmers, add chops and fry 4 to 5 minutes on each side, until golden brown and crispy, or to an internal temperature between 150 and 160 degrees F. Drain on rack set over baking sheet, then transfer to a warm serving platter. Serve with lemon wedges and garnish with parsley sprigs.

I think I had the oil too high, so they did "brown" a little much - but the inside was juicy and moist.

{Tagged by Jessie and Kambria}

OK - so I saw the tag from Jessie first, and I thought, ok that's cute - maybe I'll get to that. Then I clicked over Kam's blog, and saw it again. So I thought I better get on it. I didn't even move my butt from the chair, so no primping... obiviously. lol So, the rules:

You must take a picture of yourself right then and there....no primping.


No makeup - just a little of that lipstick that never comes off, love that stuff. Eyes looking a little crossed... usually means tired, or alcohol is kicking in. :)

I'd tag someone - but it seems like I am the last one to do this!! So, I am tagging everyone who reads this blog who hasn't done it yet :)

Life changes...

Well! A new adventure is around the corner for Josh, the wieners, the cats and me! We are moving to Bandon-by-the-Sea... that's right! In April, we will be coast dwellers. It has all happened so fast that I haven't had much time to absorb everything... but Josh will be working at my dads company and I will be opening a real studio space in Bandon! :)

All my wedding work will stay the same - I have always considered myself a "state-wide" photographer - and I LOVE driving - so nothing will be any different on that front.

I will miss all you Albany/Corvallis folks so much - but I will be around almost every weekend over the Summer :)

I want to get those portrait sessions done that we have been putting off too - ask me about the "special friend" package that I have going until I leave.... and of course send me an email whenever - cardasphotography @ gmail.com

kiss*kiss

<3 Angela

Yellow Curry Chicken with Potatoes

This is one of my favorite things to get when I go out for Thai - this is the cheap and easy version :) There are LOTS of different ways to make this, many that take hours and start from scratch. This was one I found online with the fewest amount of ingredients and shortest amount of time to make! I use Chicken, but also good with shrimp - but put them in at the end when the potatoes are tender, and cook only until the shrimp turn pink and are cooked through. Serve over rice.

• 2 3/4 cups unsweetened light coconut milk

• 3 tablespoons yellow curry powder, hot or mild

• 1 pound boneless chicken breast or tenders, cut in big, bite-sized chunks

• 2 cups chicken broth

• 3-4 small white potatoes, cut into bite-sized chunks (about 1 1/2 cups)

• 1 medium onion, cut into thick wedges (about 1 cup)

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

• 1 can water chestnuts
  

In a medium saucepan or heavy skillet, bring 1 cup of the coconut milk to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until it begins to thicken and becomes fragrant. Add the curry powder, and cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring to dissolve it into the coconut milk. Add the chicken and cook another minute or two, tossing to coat it with the sauce.

Add the remaining 1 3/4 cups coconut milk, the chicken broth, the potatoes, onion, salt, and brown sugar, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a lively simmer and cook, stirring now and then, until the chicken is cooked and the potatoes are tender but still firm, 6 to 8 minutes.

Remove from the heat and serve hot or warm.

So, sometimes I like making things from scratch. Other times? I just want something warm and yummy for dinner without a lot of hassle. This is where soup is born:


I found this at Albertson's a few weeks back and thought I would give it a try. It is by the canned soup - but on the top shelf - I tend to look up there when little old ladies ask me to get something down for them.

This stuff is YUMMY and soup-er (sorry - I couldn't resist) easy to personalize.

Once I had the soup made per package instructions, I added the following:

1 can of corn
1 lb of cooked and seasoned chicken (chopped up pretty small)
1 head of broccoli
salt (of course) and pepper

I let it all just simmer for about an hour - and then served with Ham sandwiches.