It's a Double Rainbow All The Way
(it's starting to look like a triple rainbow!)
Have you guys seen this yet?
It's too funny...
(watch the whole thing...it gets better!)
Now watch this one!
I just wanted to share a few more pictures from our 4th of July...a guy that was at the party is a photographer and was taking random shots.
I absolutely love Bennett's face in this, it was about 11pm and we were headed home. He was so sleepy but wouldn't sleep. We put the headphones on him because the fireworks we so flippin loud!
And here is Chris building a fire.
He's such a manly man.
That is all.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Tastespotting
Have you been Tastespotting?
It's an awesome website that anyone can post recipes on, but the best part is that they are all listed by their picture. If you are like me, I never buy a cookbook that doesn't have pictures.
I pretty much can tell by looking at something if I'm going to like it or not.
Go to check it out, but don't be surprised if you find it slightly addicting.
Look at what I found there just in the most recent entries:
Avocado Fries
What could be better than a fried avocado? Nothing.
I bet we will be eating these in Heaven.
Fajita Mac n Cheese
Can you tell I like avocadoes?
Malted Milk Cookie Tart
This looks dangerous
Chicken Parmasean Burgers
Tired of beef burgers?
Honey and Sesame Roasted Almonds
These would make a great gift!
tastespotting via the copycat cook
Weekend In Review
4th of July
Looking back, I really didn't take many pictures and the ones that I did take are rather random. Please forgive me.
Saturday I decided to make patriotic red velvet cakeballs covered in white chocolate with 'blue' chocolate drizzles on top. These are the cakeballs before I covered them. I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to baking and when things don't turn out like I imagined, I get really annoyed. Maybe that's why I didn't get any pictures of the finished product.
I also made some macaroons which turned out really good. I dipped them in dark chocolate after I took the picture ( I swear I used to be better at this whole picture taking thing). I had never made macaroons before and they were pretty darn easy and pretty impressive looking.
I think they tasted better a few days after baking.
We walked over to the Ace to grab some Stumptown...I always try to get a picture of this old hotel sign in the lobby. On Saturday there weren't people in the way so I was able to get it!
Bennett has never been able to wear shoes due to his 'kankles'. His feet just don't go into them because the chub won't let them. Well, I was determined to get his cute little feet into his Cons for church. They lasted for about 20 minutes until he got into the nursery then they promptly came off. Once he starts crawling (which I'm guessing will be in the next few days, he's SO close) all the sweet chub will disappear which makes me a little sad. I love it!
Sunday we went to our friend Tony's house for a day of BBQ-ing, game playing, relaxing and fireworks at night. I brought my sweet creations from the previous day and they disappeared very quickly. There probably was about 50-60 people and Bennett was totally cool with hanging out and being passed around the whole day. He's a ladies man already. I am seriously a blessed mama! At night, Bennett wanted to be social and not sleep. This is us watching fireworks on the front lawn:
Bennett looks like a zombie here:
On Monday my mom came over to watch Bennett for a bit while Chris and I went on a little date. We saw this movie in 3D:
We went to this ultra modern theater that plays mostly indie films and serves you amazing food while you watch your movie. We split a procuittio, apple and brie panini and a piece of the orange cheesecake. SO good! Here we are dorkin it up:
After the movie we stopped in at a vintage clothing shop we always walk by. We had fun looking through the stuff. I found some cool aviators and sweet boots but didn't get either. I always see people with super cute dresses that they find at vintage shops, but I had no such luck.
On our way back home we stopped at Forever 21 and I got a few summery tops to wear just in time for the weather to get butt-hot this week.
Thank the Lord for our air conditioned apartment!
And that was our weekend!
Kid Stuff Reviews
This is Bennett right before he fed himself for the first time sitting in his new highchair!
This is him after finishing (different meal/different bib).
As you can see, he throughouly enjoys making a giant mess.
I wanted to write a review for the things I find super useful during Bennett's meals.
There are so many choices out there, but luckily through nannying I was able to try out a lot of different products (that's how I found these amazing bibs) so I thought I would share since some of you are moms (or will be in the future!)
Inglesina Fast clip-on highchair (in navy):
I liked the idea of a clip-on highchair because we can just fold it up and put it on a shelf when we aren't using it. Especially since we live in a tiny downtown apartment, I didn't want anything that had a footprint to it.
I really liked this highchair compared to other clip-ons because it looked the most comfortable for Bennett. The back has plenty of padding (unlike the phil & teds) and Bennett doesn't mind sitting in it while he watches me cook dinner. It also had excellent reviews everywhere I looked.
The only thing I wasn't sure about was the fabric but Bennett has smashed all sorts of food into it and I just wipe it down with a washcloth afterwards and it still looks like new after a few weeks. It is so secure and fits perfectly at our bar so he can eat right in between us.
I also like that it has two pouches; one on the back for a bib so you always have one, and a pouch on the bottom that has an attached bag to carry the chair in! I love that we can take it when we go out to eat because those wooden highchairs give me the creeps!
I ordered his highchair from Diapers.com for $49.99 with free shipping and it came in 2 or 3 days!
I got a cheap tablecloth to catch any food that accidentally (or purposefully) finds its way to the ground below him.
Skip Hop Mate stay-put mat and plate
As I was reading reviews for the highchair, some had mentioned that this cute little placemat/plate combo fits right in between the bars of the highchair. I know kids like to flip their food-filled plates over so this was a no-brainer once we got the highchair.
We put it on the counter before we tighten the highchair so it actually sits underneath and between the bars so there is no physical way it could be flipped! I like that the white plate comes out so I can be getting his meal ready all at once on the other side of the counter then I just put it in the little place and Bennett is one happy little man.
This is a must-have if you get the highchair! (it comes in pink and turquoise too)
It runs about $20 wherever Skip-Hop products are sold. I got mine at a little boutique in Portland called Posh Baby.
Bumkins Super Bib
When I was nannying, I was with a different family almost everyday. I soon realized that bibs get NASTY, especially if they are a cloth or absorbent material that can only be used once before they have to go to the laundry.
It wasn't uncommon for me to see stinky, mildewy bibs because they never dried out.
With that said, the day I first saw these bibs I told myself I would get these when I have kids.
They are completely waterproof (the little pocket on the bottom actually holds water without it seeping out!) and if they are a little dirty you can just wipe them off. If they are really dirty I just rinse the whole thing under the faucet and either hang them or lay them out to dry. They dry within ten minutes (even if they were soaking wet), they never smell, and they come so clean that I only need to throw them in the laundry once a week (crazy, right?!)
Try to get a multi pack if you can find them. I love the Keith Haring 3 pack on the Bumkins website because the prints aren't too cutesy.
One mistake I made was getting the Starter Bib, which we never used because it fits 0-3months so it was too small once Bennett started eating solid foods.
I highly recommend these bibs if you plan on feeding your baby! :)
I got both of mine from Babies R Us for $6.50 each.
Let me know if you found my reviews helpful and maybe I will do more in the future!
Weekend In Review
It was actually sunny in Portland this weekend and the a/c definitely made it's way on!
Saturday afternoon we went up to 23rd (a trendy street with lots of cute little shops) and walked around for a bit before church.
After church Bennett and I had a little photo shoot so we will always remember how cute he looks in his tank top and cutoffs!
Sunday we had a picnic at a couple's house who are a part of our house church. They have a farm out in the country and lots of property.
Here is Bennett getting ready to go hang out in the sun:
We ate lots of food including yummy burgers and these cakeballs.
They are on my list of things to make. They were amazing!
The boys shot skeets aka clay discs:
and played some croquet:
and the girls (and Bennett) hung out on the blanket all afternoon:
Did I mention the family also owns a helicopter and took us for a ride?!
It was crazy and awesome at the same time!
I wish I would have taken the camera on the helicopter though.
All of the fields looked amazing, like a patchwork quilt.
And Bennett fell asleep like this on my friend Tracy:
Such a relaxing weekend!
(besides the fact that he's cutting 3 teeth, poor guy!)
Weekend In Review
Fathers Day Weekend
(a little late, but eh...what the heck)
We had a pretty low key but eventful weekend if that makes sense.
Bennett was very excited to celebrate his daddy!
He pretty much thinks his dad is the best.
Chris teaches him to do lots of stuff like play the guitar.
We walked down the park blocks and ate at a new restaurant called Violetta
...and it was oh so good!
I got a cob salad and Chris got the turkey club burger. We also split the tastiest sweet potato fries. I never remember to take pictures of my food because I'm so excited to eat it once it comes. Oops!
Afterwards, we walked over to get some coffee at Stumptown
and hang out at the Ace for a bit.
Took some pictures
And did the photobooth which is always fun!
That night my mom came and watched Bennett while Chris and I went on a little movie date. We saw "Date Night" at the McMenamins Mission Theater. The theater is so close to us but we never knew it was there. It was so cool! The only downside is that they don't have any fries, tots or ice cream (the best part of McMenamins!)
Sunday morning we went to church.
Bennett had a blast playing in the nursery as always.
Afterwards, he practiced being a rockstar.
Then we went bowling with my dad, siblings and niece and nephew for Fathers Day.
I decided two things:
1. it's impossible to look cool bowling.
2. no matter how good you are at Wii bowling, you probably aren't good at it in real life.
Chris and my nephew Lukas:
The best part (besides the shoes) was that they were playing 90's music and Chris and I were having a contest to see who could name the band first. I dominated. Big time.
Family photo:
And that was our weekend.
The sun is out in Portland (finally) so we are headed out!
