A Baked Goodie too Good not to Share!

Worried that my poor hubby has been wasting away while we prepare for Lovebug's arrival? Never fear... There have been home-cooked meals, just not a lot of time to blog about them. And baked goods... how could I survive the last few months without a few (or a lot) of indulgences?

So this little doozy is something that I used to eat everyday after highschool along with a delicious mocha at the local coffee shop in our town. I would grab my journal and have my Bible study there before going to my after school job, and it was the perfect way to spend the afternoon. I'm not sure how I managed to stay so skinny back then... ah youth.

These Carmelitas are buttery, carmelly, chocolatey goodness. You will not be able to stop eating them. Seriously. They're also super easy to make! Here's what you need...

Carmelitas

2 cups flour + 3 tbsp

2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
Pinch of salt
2 1/2 sticks butter (chopped up)
1 cup caramel syrup
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans

First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Mix the caramel sauce & 3 tbsp of flour together in a small bowl and set aside. Try not to lick it all off the spoon in the process.

Grab your mixer and add the butter, flour, brown sugar & oats. Mix on slow until you've got a even crumbly mixture.

Grease a 9x13in pan and press half the crumb mixture into the bottom of the pan (about 3 rounded cups.) Bake for 10 minutes and then let it cool for 10.

Now pour your caramel all over the crust, and sprinkle on the chocolate chips & pecans. Take the rest of the crumb mixture and crumble it evenly over the toppings.

Bake for another 18-20 minutes. Let it cool for an hour and then if you need to you can refridgerate it for another hour to set the filling.

Cut it up into bars and watch how fast they get gobbled up! 

Enjoy ya'll!

Lovebug Update... Still Waiting!

Well... this little Mama is 39 weeks and so ready to meet our Baby Girl! I'm pretty sure I said that 2 weeks ago... so now I REALLY mean it! I went to the doctor yesterday and she said I'm still where I was last week... NOT dialated. Lovebug is running out of room in there, which means that when she moves she's either pushing on my ribs or squashing some organs. It's not neccesarily pleasant. I've been going up and down our stairs and keeping busy, hoping something will get this party started!
Until I have more exciting news, here's my latest Bump Pics...

A Quick and Easy Fabric Basket!

Hey folks! No baby yet... although I'm VERY ready for her to be here! This is just a last minute project I whipped up while we're waiting for our Lovebug to arrive! I wanted to make a fabric basket to hold diapers, wipes, etc on our changing table & I had PLENTY of scraps left from the bedding and all the other sewing projects for the nursery. It wasn't hard to find a  few tutorials on Pinterest/the Blog world... I love how easy the Web makes crafting! Sorry about not having "before" or "what you need pictures" ... I just used the patterns I found and made up my own as I went. Feel free to check out these lovely ladies' tutorials HERE & HERE. When it comes to cooking and crafting, I usually take other's suggestions and then do my own thing. Here's how it turned out...

Happy Friday! I'll post the latest bump pics and hopefully some exciting news soon! 



Lovebug Update & Getting Ready!

Whew... 37 weeks! I am READY for this little girl to come out and make her entrance into the world! She's definitely runnin' out of room in there and this little Mama isn't sleeping at ALL. Lovebug thinks it's real funny to headbutt me down there... making my nightly bathroom visits about every 45 minutes at this point. Last week the Dr. said that she was head down and in position... so it's just a waiting game now! I have another appointment this Friday, and I'm crossing my fingers that she's gonna tell me some good news!

It's such a funny thing, I was so worried about getting all the "stuff"... now that the time is drawing closer, I'm just ready to figure it all out with her in my arms! I've got one more nursery project, maybe two... I'm just keeping busy though now. The stroller is all put together, the swing is ready, and Bri tells her every night before bed that she can come out anytime now! We're both so excited to see what she looks like and kiss her sweet face!

As far as the labor part goes... I've sure had my anxious moments. I really want to do this as natural as possible... no medical intervention, no drugs. Bri and I have been reading the Bradley Book (Husband Coached Childbirth) and the more we read the more calm and comfortable we feel. I just keep reminding myself that women have been doing this for thousands of years... and God made our bodies to do this. I will trust him to know what our birth story will be, and I definitely understand that if an emergency happens... the doctors will take care of me and Lovebug. Until then...

Here's the latest bump pics! You can definitely see my face getting rounder. Oh well... three more weeks of ice cream- right?

Pretty Scalloped Bunting!

Hello folks! This little Mama is writing from a VERY warm Missouri... trying to keep my feet up and stay out of the lovely heat! Just 3ish weeks left before Lovebug should be here, and I'm finishing up some last minute sewing projects as final touches on the nursery!

Since I'm not sleeping too much these days, I've been passing the time spending hours on Pinterest. If you haven't discovered the amazing way to catalog your ideas, diy projects, decor, clothing style, etc... you must stop everything and CHECK IT OUT! I'm in love. No more overflowing "Favorites" bar for this girl! Just beautiful pictures to daydream about all day long!

One of the adorable ideas I found on Pinterest are these Scalloped Bunting. I knew I wanted some sort of pennants (I'm obsessed) to add a little color to the white curtains in the nursery... but these are just over-the-top cute! I grabbed my scraps of Wee Woodland from the bedding and got sewing!

Here's what you need...

-Scraps of fabric in various colors/patterns
-Premade bias tape (I made a LOT of bunting so I used 3 packages of 3 yds each)
-The pattern (found HERE)
-Scissors &/or rotary cutter & board, pins, sewing maching... you get the picture.
-Coordinating thread ( I've used a pretty jade color for everything in the nursery... I like the contrast)

I doubled up scraps of fabric, and pinned the pattern to them, then I cut away! I sewed the two pieces right sides facing on the rounded edge, using a 1/4 in seam allowance. Then I trimmed the seam allowance to 1/8 in and cut several snips in it so that when I turned each scallop out, it was nice and round. I ironed them all flat and pinned them, sandwiched into the bias tape. Then I sewed along the edge closest to the opening in the bias tape in one continuous line. Voila! Lots of pretty scalloped bunting!

Here they are hanging in Lovebug's nursery! I can NOT wait to reveal the nursery soon! It's almost done... just finishing up those last little details! Are you getting excited? I sure am!

Have a great weekend!

A Sweet Soiree for Lovebug!

Goodness gracious time is just flying by! I can't believe I haven't told ya'll about the lovely shower that dear Casey & Renee threw Lovebug & I! I had only been in town for a week at that point and it was such a special treat to spend the day with all my girlfriends getting adorable baby things, and eating delicious sweets!

Casey, Me & my sister, Renee

The Ladies did an absolutely amazing job on the decorations! My heart leaped at the sugar-rimmed mason jars & vintage hankie pennants! My sweet friend Sara made a yummy array of cupcakes, fruit kabobs, candies, dark chocolate truffles, and dipped strawberries! Lovebug and I really enjoy sugar... it's our favorite food group at the moment.

I felt so incredibly blessed by all the gifts that were given! My wonderful friend Jen and her sweet Mama drove from over 3 hours away to be with me and her Mama made the most beautiful Minnie Mouse diaper cake! (We LOVE Disney and I was just giddy over it!) I received so many adorable outfits and tiny dresses... Lovebug will be so well dressed! My Mama bought me my designer diaper bag, that I'm itchin' to fill! I was also given all of my Etsy prints that I picked out and some super cute woodland flashcards! I can't wait to put them up in the nursery!

Games involving the not-so-tasty baby food and a blindfold were played... and a few with diapers. We ladies laughed, caught up, and nibbled on sweets. It was a wonderful afternoon and I will forever appreciate the thoughtfulness of my friends and family!

Me, Lovebug, Marmie, and Gramma...Four Generations!