{hello monday}

Bye bye, weekend! Hello Monday! It's that time again....official summer countdown IS 5 weeks! Now, let's just pretend those five weeks will be stress free and smooth sailing...however; if you work in a school like me, you know that is probably not the case! BUT...there is an end in sight! One day at a time, my friends! I came across this "monday funny" and had to share! So true, right?!  

 



Have a wonderful day! Sorry for such a short post! I'll do better next time! :-)

  These pictures pretty much sums it up! The weekend is almost here! We're excited for a fun filled weekend with friends and family! Mimi and Papa are spending the night with us tonight {while daddy is out of town}. Tomorrow we have a fun birthday party at the antique firehouse, and then it's mommy's night out with some of her besties! Sunday will be a special time for Josh and I as we attend a class preparing us for Ella's dedication at church {mother's day weekend}.

Cheers to the weekend!



{dining room} inspirations

I have been waiting since this past June to get my dining room all together; however, life happened and we've been busy since we moved into our home! This past weekend, Josh and I purchased our first dining room set {table, chairs and buffet}! We are thrilled! So...in the meantime, I'm trying to figure out the perfect paint color, patterns/prints for drapes, chandeliers, decorations and accessories to make our new room feel nice and cozy! Here are some of my favorite inspirations!

Let the planning begin!

 

{4 months away}

So. Very. True. I can't believe the big 3-0 is just four months from today! Thank you Pinterest for a good laugh!

 

{tasty tuesday} not yo' mama's banana pudding

 If you like banana pudding, this is a must! I don't think you could go wrong with this recipe! It is one of my favorite dessert dishes to make {and I'm a chocolate girl...so that says a lot}!

Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding

Ingredients

1  12-ounce container frozen whipped topping thawed, or equal amount sweetened whip

1  14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

1  8-ounce package cream cheese, softened

2 cups milk

1  5-ounce box instant French vanilla pudding

6-8 bananas, sliced

2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies

Directions

1. Line the bottom of a 13x9x2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top.

2. In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy!

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

{weekend recap}

It's time to start the official Monday countdown to Summer 2012....6 weeks, my friends! I think I can, I think I can... Okay, here is a little reminder to myself...It's Monday, but it's O.K. Very true! There are much worse things I can think of than just another manic Monday!



We had a fun, relaxing weekend! My hubby has been under the weather this past week {and little miss continues to teeth}, so we laid low. You just need weekends like that every now and then! Here are a few pics from our weekend happenings!

Gram and Double came to visit! Ella loved watching Gram make funny faces at her!

Ella learned to do her first "high kick"!

Seven month olds!

Enjoying her lazy morning of reading and watching TV!

Finally, mommy had to run some errands! Ella riding like a big girl for her first time! I think I've found my new partner in crime! Look out, Home Goods! 

And finally, Ella tried turkey for the first time! You can tell by her smile, she simply enjoyed it! 

And there you have it, a weekend with the Dearmores! Happy Monday! 



 

{seven months}

 

Our baby girl turned seven months on Saturday! Ella is pretty excited, because she realized in just 5 months, she'll get to eat cake for the first time! Mommy on the other hand is a little sad, because she realized her baby is closer to being ONE years old than a newborn. Where oh where are these months going?

This past month was a big month for little miss! She cut two teeth {within a week apart AND had her 6 month shots that same week}. Poor baby, but she was a trooper. She learned to sit up by herself during month 5, but she now sits up and plays, reaches, grabs, and stuffs EVERYTHING into her mouth {all while sitting by herself}. We have an occasional tip over, but so far so good! She is so very close to crawling. She is in the perfect position, lifts her legs like she is about to move forward, but somehow manages to always go backwards {I know this is usually what to expect at first}. Ella is not a fan of green beans. The second they touch her lips, she closes them so tightly that you can't get the spoon to go in anymore. Let me tell you, she definitely knows what she wants and what she doesn't want. I've loved getting to see her little personality continue to blossom! I love her sweet spirit, her little laughs {she is the most ticklish thing you've ever seen}, and the way she looks up at you and gives you the biggest smile you've ever seen. Ahh....talk about melting a momma's heart! She has become more and more vocal! Let me just tell you, this little chica has discovered her voice! She loves to squeal, "sing", imitate different sounds {practicing her little conversation skills} and last but not least {her current favorite} blow raspberry’s {my speechie friends know the excitement I felt when I saw this for the first time}.

What a fun month we've had! Happy 7 months, sweet baby girl! 

 

wilw {all things yellow}

I'm loving all the new fun summer accessories and clothes out right now. Some of my favorites have all had something to do with the color yellow. Here are some favorites...

1. Personalized stationary found @  http://www.etsy.com/shop/ohlouisedesigns. I have ordered many items from her and haven't regreted it yet!

2. I'm loving this! I could see many cute outfits in the future with this skirt.

3. A touch of yellow to spruce up any outfit! 

4. Ahh...cute hat for the beach. Maybe a good one for our upcoming trip?! {plans in the making}

5. A girl just simply cannot have enough scarfs {if you think like me or dress like me}! I love the colors...fun and bright!

 

As I'm sure you could, all of the last four items are from the same place! Any guesses?! It's a favorite...Francesca's Collections. 

Happy Wednesday! We're half way done! 

{tasty tuesday} french dip crescents

Thank you Pinterest for this yummy recipe! I came across this the other day and had to share! Simple and delicious!

French Dip Crescents



  Ingredients

1/2 pound deli roast beef, thinly sliced

4 slices provolone cheese

4 tsp horseradish sauce or Ranch dressing

1 can refrigerated crescent rolls

1 packet Au Jus Gravy mix

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Separate crescent rolls into 8 triangles. Spread 1/2 teaspoon horseradish sauce or Ranch dressing on each crescent. Top each crescent with 1/2 slice provolone cheese and roast beef. Roll up crescents and place on baking sheet. Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until golden brown.

3. While crescents are baking, make Au Jus according to directions on packet. Serve with warm crescents.

*This recipe found @ http://www.plainchicken.com/ used McCormick Au Jus Gravy mix and Boar's Head roast beef.

Enjoy! Happy Tuesday!

{thursday thoughts}

1. Only 1 more day until Friday!  This week really has flown by!  I think things are so busy that the days fly right by me!  That being said...only 7 more weeks of school {beginning Monday}. YES!  Summer is right around the corner!  We're busy planning away!

2. My poor baby girl is having a rough week with teething.  She has had fever for 2 days now, but I really think it is those silly teeth trying to poke through {p.s., she cut 2 teeth 2 weeks ago}.  It is not fun!  I think she's just ready to eat "mommy and daddy" food instead of those yucky peas and squash from a jar!  What are some of your favorite teethers?

3. I'm super excited about seeing this cute little hat on Ella during the summertime!  I couldn't resist once I saw it!  As much as we'll be at the beach, I thought that was a good enough excuse!

4. I came across these sayings/quotes this week and wanted to share!  I felt like they were speaking right to me....you know, like those sermons where you're like, did the preacher know EXACTLY what I'm going through right now?!  It's not always easy going to work everyday and leaving my baby girl.  However, I'm SO VERY thankful for her babysitter and the 4 other lil' punkins she's with everyday.  We are so blessed and I'm reminded each and everyday.  I'm so thankful God did not create us to all be alike, otherwise, there wouldn't be as much excitement, creativity, joy, and laughter in this world.  Maybe I just needed the reminder, but I thought they were pretty darn good! :)





5.  I'm so excited to spend the weekend with friends and family!  I feel like our world is getting a little more "normal" (aka...our new normal) BUT I wouldn't change a thing!  Pics to come on Monday!

Happy Thursday, sweet friends and fam!

"This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24