27 Week Bumpdate

If you're new to my corner of the web, you can use these links to easily get back to previous bumpdates:   Week 23 Bumpdate Week 24 Bumpdate Week 25 Bumpdate Week 26 Bumpdate  

 

Size of the baby: Eggplant – 14.5 inches long and weighs 2 pounds.

  Biggest baby development: Baby can recognize and differentiate Mom and Dad's voices now!
   Total weight gain: Didn't weigh myself.
   Gender: Boy!!
  Maternity clothes: Same old jeans, tops, and dresses. My wardrobe is really exciting lately.    Movement: He's kicking more each day but his favorite times to kick are early in the morning when I'm still laying on my side and early evening.
   Sleep: Laying on my side is pretty painful on my back and hips. I can't wait to sleep on my back again.
   Nursery: I decided to move his nursery from one room to the other - there's more space and a better layout. We had the crib setup in the old room and had to take it almost completely apart to move it down the hallway.
   Cravings: Sandwiches and cheese crackers.
   Symptoms: My left foot and ankle are starting to swell. This is the foot I had my bunion removed on and it has never been right since the surgery when I was in high school. Also still having heartburn.
   Khanh is: Poking and talking to baby on a daily basis. I'm sure he already loves Daddy!
   Looking forward to: Another baby shower this weekend, seeing my family, and vacation next week!
   Best moments: Getting to spend time with my grandparents after work one night. Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa for dinner :) I also got to spend some time with my other grandma who flew in from Maryland for my baby shower last weekend. I hadn't seen her since our wedding last summer.   Note: I post these updates at the end of the week, so I am currently in my 28th week.

What's Up Wednesday: Roommates and Vacation

I've been following Shay over at Mix and Match Family for a while now and I love how open and real she is about her faith and her family. She lives in Texas now, but we used to be neighbors up here in the good ol' Mitten State. Sort of. Just ignore the fact that I was probably in high school and her husband was a Detroit Lion. This Mama definitely inspires me to be the best mama to our little guy. Shay has taught me that there will be rough parenting days, but to turn my focus to God and find the good in every situation.  On the last Wednesday of each month, Shay co-hosts a link party along with Mel and Sheaffer.  

 

Here are the questions:

 

Along with the questions above, the hosts provide a bonus question each month. This month's bonus question is, What are you doing for the 4th of July?

 

Feel free to play along in the comments section. Now, let's get started...

 

1. What we're eating this week...

I bought a honey glazed bone-in half ham for 50% off last week, so I cooked that baby on Monday night. We had friends over for dinner and then I cut up the leftovers and tossed them in the freezer. This was a super inexpensive way to get meat for multiple meals for our little family and not have to labor over the oven each time. So, I am being creative this week and finding ways to use the leftover ham.

 

2. What I'm reminiscing about...

I've been thinking about my college girlfriends a lot lately. I miss staying up late into the night chatting away. I miss waking up to their bad hair days. I miss making dinner together. I miss going out on the town together. I miss decorating our little apartment for Christmas. I just miss knowing they will be home when I walk through the door.  
3. What I'm loving...
Our house is finally starting to feel like a home.  The living room is almost done. It's my favorite room in the house right now.

4. What we've been up to...
We have been doing a lot lately. The past few weekends we have been driving to the other side of the state for bridal showers, hospital visits, and other things. When we are home, we are busy doing house and yard work. It's been raining non-stop and we are just sick and tired of cutting the grass - which could be done every 3 days. But, being busy every weekend is a reminder that we are blessed to have a roof over our heads and a family that loves us.

5. What I'm dreading...
I have 50ish work days left before maternity leave. These will quite possibly be the longest days of my life. Ever.

6. What I'm working on...
I'm currently working on finishing designing my blog. I never got it looking exactly how I wanted so it's time I start working on it again. I do all the HTML and CSS coding myself so it takes quite a while, but the end results re so worth my time.

7. What I'm excited about... Going to Cancun next week and spending a few days alone with the hubby. Hopefully this will be my view for 4 straight days. Take that back. Hopefully my view includes a hot Vietnamese guy, too!  

8. What I'm watching...
The only show I'm currently following is The Bachelorette. Though this season is definitely losing my attention rather quickly. I don't like watching one girl hook up with each guy she's dating. Show a little self-respect, Kaitlyn. When you're done reading my What's up Wednesday post, head over to Sheaffer's blog (a co-host) to check out her Bachelorette recap. She is seriously hilarious!

9. What I'm listening to...
America's got Talent is on in the background. I just like to have the T.V. on for some background noise, I don't really watch the show.  

10. What I'm wearing...
Currently sitting on the couch in pre-maternity running shorts and an old college t-shirt. Both of which are getting tighter by the day. And oh-so unflattering. But who am I trying to impress?

11. What I'm doing this weekend...
Saturday will finally be a day at home with no plans on the agenda. Then on Sunday, we are driving to my hometown for another baby shower. I can't wait to see my family and celebrate our little guy with everyone. The Hubster gets to hangout with my grandpa during the baby shower so my grandma can attend without any worries. Though my grandpa has already said that he'll get to do what he wants since Khanh sleeps all the time. Hmmm. We shall see.

12. What I'm looking forward to next month...
Our first anniversary is the end of July and I absolutely cannot wait. We will be going to my family reunion the day before our anniversary, so we don't have big plans. I wouldn't mind going to a nice dinner and talking for hours about our first year of marriage and our hopes and dreams for the next 70 years together. I just love and appreciate my husband so very much.  

13. What else is new...
I got these sunglasses from Target to take to Cancun next week. I know, my life is so exciting.

14. What I'm doing for the 4th of July...
The Hubby and I will be relaxing on the beach in Mexico. Book in hand. Sunscreen lathered on. Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri in hand.

26 Week Bumpdate

If you're new to my corner of the web, you can use these links to easily get back to previous bumpdates:   Week 23 Bumpdate Week 24 Bumpdate Week 25 Bumpdate  

 

Size of the baby: Head of Lettuce – 14 inches long and weighs 1.75 pounds.

  Biggest baby development: Eyes are forming and will soon start to open.
   Total weight gain: Didn't weigh myself.
   Gender: Boy!!
  Maternity clothes: I purchased a few summery shirts and dresses from Target's Maternity line.    Movement: Kicking up a storm. It feels like he's doing backflips all day long. He seems to be most active early in the morning when I'm still laying in bed on my side.
   Sleep: I have finally been getting decent sleep lately. Those baggy eyes aren't a good look!
   Nursery: We finally set up his crib!
   Cravings: Anything with cheese.
   Symptoms: Acid reflux keeps popping up on a regular basis. Thankfully, Tums works wonders!
   Khanh is: excited for his little man to get here. He constantly makes noises and talks to the baby through my belly.
   Looking forward to: Seeing family and having my first shower this weekend!
   Best moments: Setting up the crib and starting to think about the nursery a little more.   Note: I post these updates at the end of the week, so I am currently in my 27th week.

25 Week Bumpdate

If you're new to my corner of the web, you can use these links to easily get back to previous bumpdates:   Week 23 Bumpdate Week 24 Bumpdate  

 As you can see, we finally hung pictures in the house. These hanging shelves and frames make my heart happy. They hold most of our favorite people all in one place.

 

Size of the baby: Cauliflower – 13.5 inches long and weighs 1.5 pounds.

  Biggest baby development: Nostrils start opening.
   Total weight gain: Didn't weigh myself.
   Gender: Boy!!
  Maternity clothes: Haven't bought anything lately. I do need to go bra shopping and find a maternity bathing suit.
   Movement: Little man hasn't been as active this week. I think he's laying really far back, because the kicks don't seem to be as prominent. My mom was able to feel him kick over the weekend....and I'm sure that's all she's talking about this week :)
   Sleep: I have been using the Snoogle Pregnancy Pillow which has been a complete lifesaver, but for some reason I've been more comfortable using a regular pillow to support my belly this week.
   Nursery: Haven't thought about it. Just the thought of everything we still need for a baby is overwhelming and the nursery door has stayed closed for a few days.
   Cravings: Nectarines and chocolate pudding. The green olives have also made a return this week. And I can't stand eggs...even the look of them makes me want to gag.
   Symptoms: The leg cramps have started, but PowerAde ZERO has helped a little. My left foot is starting to swell, but I think it's a combination of having foot surgery a few years ago and the pregnancy.
   Khanh is: Chubby. *Disclaimer: This is a direct quote from the Hubby himself.* He did send another e-mail shortly after and said he is super excited. I like the first answer better. Haha!
   Looking forward to: Two baby showers this month! My Grammie is flying in from Maryland for the first shower and I can't wait to see her.
   Best moments: I got to talk to one of my best friends from high school that now lives in Mississippi (Hi Audry!). Even though we can't see each other on a regular basis, it's like distance disappears when we are able to catch up. We also got to see my grandparents on their 62nd Anniversary. Look how adorable they are!  

Note: I post these updates at the end of the week, so I am currently in my 26th week.

Two Positive Tests and One Excited Hubby

I woke up one January morning and thought, "hmmm, I haven't had my monthly visit yet." I went on with my day but made sure to stop by CVS Pharmacy after work to pick up a pregnancy test. I read the instruction pamphlet and waited to take the test until the next morning. After peeing on the infamous stick, I set it on the edge of the bath tub and went about my morning getting ready for work. I returned to the bathroom a few minutes later, picked up the stick, and read....Pregnant! I couldn't believe my eyes and I very slowly said, "what the f***." (Sorry, Grandma!) If you know me at all, you know I hardly ever swear and that it's a big deal when I do, so to say I was in shock would be an extreme understatement. I wanted to be sure the test was correct, so I took the remaining test after work. Yup, this one read Pregnant, too. After taking two tests that both read pregnant and after the initial shock subsided, I knew I had to tell Khanh, but he was in Ohio for work and I didn't want to tell him over the phone.  

Our 5 year dating anniversary was that weekend, so I decided to do something extra special for him. I went to Target and bought a pack of gender neutral onesies and pants and an elephant rattle. I tied them all together with the pregnancy test on top and put them in a gift bag we had on hand. Khanh's reaction will forever be imprinted in my mind. His voice went up an octave or two and he had the cutest little grin on his face. I can't wait to watch him be a daddy to our little man.   Question of the day: What are some creative ways you told your partner you were pregnant?

24 Week Bumpdate

I hope you enjoy reading these updates as much as I enjoy writing them. I know someday I'll look back and be glad that I can read about what life was like before baby was here. If you're new to my corner of the web, you can find Week 23 Bumpdate here. Now, onto Week 24!

 

 

Size of the baby: Ear of Corn – 12.5 inches long and weighs 1.25 pounds.

 

Biggest baby development: Startle reflexes began developing.
 

Total weight gain: 14 pounds...and a lot more to gain!
 

Gender: Boy!!
 

Maternity clothes: I did find a maxi dress at Target for $13. It isn't maternity, but will hopefully work for me all summer.
 

Movement: Story time! Baby was kicking the other night so I had Khanh come look at my belly. He decided to place his face right next to my belly. You know, just to make sure he didn't miss the kicks or something. After a few minutes, a leg kicked out from the side of my belly. In the very same blink, Khanh took a step back, eyes widened, and said, "Was that you!" Haha! I don't think I could do that with my belly if I wanted to. Glad he's got a sense of humor, though. Or, am I glad that he finally knows what I have been going through? We will never know the true answer.
 

Sleep: I haven't been able to get into a deep sleep. Almost every night, I wake up close to an hour before my alarm goes off.
 

Nursery: We did buy a night stand from Home Goods to use for night time diaper change and feeding necessities. My dad brought an old wooden rocking chair to our house. This thing has been passed down for generations - such a special thing to have for our little guy.
 

Cravings: Grapes. I ate almost an entire bag by myself this week!
 

Symptoms: The leg cramps have started. I'll leave it at that.
 

Khanh is: Constantly telling me how big my belly is. Even though we've had "the talk", he won't stop. At least he doesn't say it with a bad tone. He really does love the way I look now.
 

Looking forward to: Putting the crib together, picking out paint colors, and my first baby shower!
 

Best moments: Having our families over for the house warming/gender reveal party. I'm glad they all made the long trek across the state to celebrate with us.

Note: I post these updates at the end of the week, so I am currently in my 25th week.

It's A...

The Hubby and I held a Housewarming/Gender Reveal party last weekend. You can watch the gender reveal video below. Baby Dang is a...

 

...BOY!!!

We are so excited to welcome our precious baby boy into this world and pray that the rest of my pregnancy goes smoothly and our little one is healthy. Now, the question is, "Who will he look like?"

23 Week Bumpdate

Size of the baby: Papaya – 11.5 inches long and weighs 1.1 pounds....finally over 1 pound!

 

Biggest baby development: Lungs begin developing
 

Total weight gain: I didn't weigh myself this week. Until the last few weeks, I felt that my arms, boobs, and thighs were the only places gaining weight and you couldn't tell I was even pregnant.
 

Gender: ???
 

Maternity clothes: The good old hair tie around the button trick wasn't cutting it anymore, so I broke down and bought actual maternity jeans. I only have one pair of jeans, which is okay because I will probably have to buy shorts soon. I have a couple maternity tops, but for the most part have bought long, flowy tops from TJ Maxx – perfect for post-pregnancy too!
 

Movement: Baby has been kicking more each day – usually first thing in the morning and right before bed. It's such an awesome, but strange feeling and sometimes catches me off guard. I have been able to see the baby kick for a couple weeks now, but every time Khanh looked, the baby would stop kicking. Though he hasn't seen any kicks, he was able to feel the baby move the other night!
 

Sleep: I haven’t been sleeping very well – mainly due to not being comfortable.
 

Nursery: My Grammie and aunts bought us a crib and is now sitting in the box in the nursery. I've also bought a couple canvases for the walls.
 

Cravings: Can't get enough green olives and salt & vinegar chips.
 

Symptoms: I woke up one morning last week with sharp pain in my lower abdomen. I didn't think much of it, but around 10:00am, I finally called my OB/GYN because the pain just wasn't going away. They sent me straight to the hospital to get checked out. After doing a bunch of tests, they think I just strained a muscle and baby is fine. I was so scared when the nurse told me I had to go straight to the hospital that I started crying and made my co-worker call Khanh to let him know because he was in Cincinnati this week.
 

Khanh is: Excited and loves to talk to the baby and rub my belly.
 

Looking forward to: Our gender reveal party at the end of the month! Girl or Boy??
 

Best moments: Seeing the baby and finding out the gender during our last scheduled ultrasound. We also visited my grandpa in the hospital and the first thing he did when I walked into his recovery room was rub my belly with a huge smile on his face. That was such a special moment for me because my grandpa is one of the most important men in my life and I'm so glad he gets to see me pregnant (after all, we all know I am his favorite grandchild!)

Lately, I've Been...

I've never completed a survey for my blog, but I love reading other blogger's survey answers. Survey's are a quick and easy way to get to know more about the author. After reading Julie's blog yesterday with the "Lately, I've Been..." survey, I thought I'd play along and complete my first survey. Prepare yo'self! (Before ya wreck yo'self). Sorry, not sorry.  

Lately, I've Been...

Making: our house a home. Painting is mostly done. Hooray! Yard work and organizing seem to be never-ending tasks. Oh, how organization makes me happy.

Cooking: Chicken Alfredo Pasta with Peas. Yummy! I'll post the recipe soon.

Reading: I haven't cracked open many books since graduating last April. When will this change? I hope the answer is soon!

Wanting: a long weekend getaway before Baby Dang comes. Maybe Mackinac Island or Niagara Falls.

Looking: forward to a 3 day weekend, seeing family, and crafting with my friend. *Hi Hannah!*

Playing: with Cooper every night after work.

 

Wishing: I could sleep better at night and wake up feeling refreshed.

Enjoying: the last few (quiet) months spent with the hubby before baby comes.

Waiting: for our little one to arrive...only 4 more months!

Liking: Mini Twix bars. I bought family pack from Meijer and have been taking a couple to work every day. *No shame*

Needing: ice cream...it's what's for dessert lately.

Wondering: What will Baby Dang look like? Will we be good parents? Just so many things going through my head right now.

Loving: my hubby. He's truly the best husband and I can't thank him enough for all he does. He will do anything from doing the dishes, to mowing, to laundry, to keeping Cooper occupied, to supporting our family with a smile on his face. A day doesn't go by that I don't feel like the luckiest wife in the world. *That's because I am*

Hoping: to get a lot of house work done this weekend. You know, with a housewarming/gender reveal party at the end of the month and all.

Wearing: maternity jeans, maternity shirt, and Toms. This is my usual pregnant mama uniform lately, but I can't wait until it's warm enough here in Michigan to wear dresses and flip flops!

Drinking: Raspberry Lemonade. Lots and lots of water. And the occasional Coke.

 

Noticing: that bending over is getting harder and harder. Keep growing big and strong in there, baby!

Knowing: my grandpa loves me and is very proud of me. He's been there for me during soccer games, choir concerts, cross country meets, a good laugh, serious talks, cries together, graduations, and lots more. It hurts my heart to see him in the hospital, but it also makes me smile from ear to ear when he tears up and tells me he is proud of who I've become. *Favorite grandchild award*

Thinking:  I'll be pale the rest of my life. There's no denying it.

Feeling: tired. Will this ever go away? Ha!

Bookmarking: all things baby and home on Pinterest.

Opening: box after box.

  Pheww! We made it! Now it's your turn. Pick one topic from above and let me know what's been happening in your life lately.

And Then There Were 4...

World, meet Cooper. The newest addition to our household.  

  He's a 9-week old Miniature Goldendoodle that captured our hearts as soon as we laid eyes on him. Cooper loves to pounce on leaves, follow the hubby and I around, play tug-of-war, and cuddle. Cooper will also be a big brother soon!  

 

Khanh and I couldn't be more excited to be welcoming our first baby into the world in September. We weren't planning on having kids for a couple more years, but God doesn't listen to our plans. He makes plans that are way better than you or I could ever imagine. We already love our little baby so much and can't wait to meet him/her in September.

Our First Home!

There's been a lot going on for the Dang family the past few months, which is why I disappeared. I'm back today to let you know that we bought a house!

 

The hubby and I recently closed on our very first house! The roller coaster of emotions we have been on the past couple months has definitely been a wild ride, but we wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. This will be the first home that either of us truly feel like we have our own space and can do whatever we want to it, which makes this house that much more special. We have started painting, but I haven't bought many decorations yet. If you need me next week, I'll be at TJ Maxx and HomeGoods.

  This is the house we will eventually bring our babies home to. This is the house we will laugh, cry, fight, and love in. This is the house we will entertain our guests in. This is the house we will start traditions with our little family in.   Here's a peak inside the house we get to make our home - beginning this weekend! These pictures are from the listing, so imagine a very empty house right now.

 The front door leads you into the living room, with vaulted ceilings. My favorite part of the entire house.

The living room opens into the dining room and kitchen.

 

It's a cozy 3 bedroom and 2 bathroom house.

 

The basement is finished. This is where you will find the dry bar and laundry room.

 

This house will forever be a very special place to us. Stay tuned for updates and DIY projects!

 

*Disclaimer: There are no pictures of the outside of the house for safety reasons. Please do not ask to see the outside of the house. You'll have to come visit us to see this.*

Honeymoon Road Trip (Part 1)

I want to start off by saying that these honeymoon posts will be the longest I'll ever write, but I want to remember everywhere we went and all the fun things we did.

Khanh and I finally escaped the cold Michigan winter to go on our honeymoon. We loaded up my 2015 Jeep Cherokee Limited and headed out on the open road for 15 days. We stayed in 7 cities in 5 states. Though it wasn't the honeymoon we were dreaming of, it was absolutely perfect and I wouldn't trade it for any other trip. OK, maybe Hawaii!

Our first overnight stop was Nashville, Tennessee. But, first, we made a quick pit stop just outside of Bowling Green, Ohio at the National Corvette Museum. This stop was special to me because my grandpa was a member of the museum's founding board and his name is on a brick located near the front entrance. We also got to see the huge sink hole from February 12, 2014 and all the cars that were salvaged.

We arrived at the Residence Inn Nashville Airport in Nashville, Tennessee just before dinner. My grandparents friend, Dr. Bob, who is a vocal surgeon for all the country stars, made reservations for us at the best table at Sperry’s Restaurant, a steakhouse in the cutest little neighborhood. This was the only meal we splurged on during our entire trip because it was also my birthday!

We woke up the next morning and had the continental breakfast provided by the hotel. After filling up on waffles, we headed out to explore Nashville. Our first stop was the Grand Ole’ Opry. Unfortunately, we arrived too early and the only thing open was the gift shop.

Next on our agenda was exploring downtown Nashville. We got gypped paid for parking and started looking for the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge. It’s a big, beautiful bridge in the heart of downtown Nashville that connects the city on both sides of the Cumberland River. After exploring the bridge, we wanted to tour the Country Music Hall of Fame, but decided against it after seeing the admission prices. Here’s the thing, Khanh isn't a country music fan and didn't want to spend money to look at something he could care less about. I know, I know, what horror! I’m working on him still. After all that excitement for the morning, we found ourselves back at the hotel for a quick nap before being locked in a room with four strangers for an hour.

The Escape Game – Nashville, was hands-down most fun we had in Nashville. We decided to give the Classified Room a try this time around. Our group was acting as anti-terrorists trying to find clues that would lead us to terrorists (or in this case just unlocking the door to escape in the allotted 60 minutes.) We escaped with seconds to spare!

After such an intense game, our stomachs were begging to be fed and Edley’s Bar-B-Que hit the spot. I always gravitate towards pulled pork at any BBQ place, and this time it definitely did not disappoint.

Back at the hotel, we packed our things up before our heads hit the pillow. Stay tuned for our next stop in Hot Springs, Arkansas!

New Year Goals

I used to make new year resolutions, but - like most people - I found that after a few weeks I even forgot what I was resolving to do that year. If you are one of the few people on the planet that can actually stick to their new year resolutions, good for you! Pat yourself on the back for me. We had a breakthrough moment on our road trip (more on that in another post!) over Christmas break. My husband asked what my goals are for this year. Insert my mind being blown here. Goals? I've never thought about new year resolutions in the form of yearly goals. I'm not sure if the word resolution intimidates me or if the word itself implies that I'm being forced to give something up. Whatever it may be, I'm not a fan. But, goals? I like that word a heck of a lot more! Goals are achievable. Goals are not intimidating. Goals push you to be a better you.   After the initial shock that making new year goals make 10000% more sense than trying to keep new year resolutions, Khanh and I came up with four goals that we each want to accomplish during 2015. Below you can find my personal goals.  

  Goal 1: Publish at least one blog post per week. If you're a blogger, you know how hard this can actually be. This goal includes finding new organizational tools and sticking to a schedule.   Goal 2: Finish designing my blog. Blog design is very time consuming when you don't know any HTML code. I have to watch YouTube videos for almost everything I want to change. I could pay someone to work with me on designing my blog, but I feel like that's the easy way out - unless you have absolutely no free time. There is a sense of accomplishment and pride just knowing that I created my blog from scratch, even if it takes hours days!   Goal 3: Move to a different department at work. I'm lucky enough to work for a company that wants to see their employees succeed. Moving to another department will allow me to gain important skills to further my career, learn more about the company, and ultimately end up doing what I'm passionate about.   Goal 4: Find a local church. This is a goal my husband and I both share. Since Khanh and I moved across the state, we haven't found a church we can call home. Even more important to us, is finding a community within that church of young married couples. Learning about marriage, life, and God is so much easier when you have like-minded people to encourage you along the way.   What are some of your 2015 goals?

Bloglovin' Page

I have a short and sweet post for all the bloggers out there. 

I now have a bloglovin' page. 

You can click here to Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Quinoa Enchilada Casserole

My love for Mexican food has resurfaced! Subtract the flour tortillas, add some quinoa and you're left with this delicious (and healthy!) Quinoa Enchilada Casserole.

To be quite frank with you, I was nervous to try this recipe because I have never had quinoa before. After one bite, I knew this recipe needed to be added to our rotating list of weekly dinners. Healthy and delicious? Score!

We were able to get 6 servings from this recipe, so plan accordingly.

Ingredients

1 cup quinoa - I used red, unbleached quinoa

1 (10-oz) can enchilada sauce

1 green pepper

1/2 cup corn - frozen or canned

1/2 cup canned black beans - drained and rinsed

1 tomato

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

salt and pepper to taste

3/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese

3/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1 avocado

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, cook quinoa in 2 cups water. Cook according to package directions.

2. While quinoa is cooking, preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat an 8x8 or 2 quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

3. In a large bowl, combine quinoa, enchilada sauce, green pepper, corn, black beans, tomato, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Stir in 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.

4. Spread quinoa mixture into coated baking dish. Top with remaining cheeses.

5. Place into oven and bake until bubbly and cheese melts, about 20 minutes.

6. Serve immediately, garnished with avocado and more tomato, if desired.

Do you like quinoa and eat it on a regular basis?

If you make this recipe, let me know how you liked it!

You're Engaged! 5 Easy Steps To Start Wedding Planning

First, I want to say congratulations! Being engaged is such a special moment in your relationship but it can also become stressful very quickly. You may be thinking that hiring a wedding planner is necessary, but I'm here to tell you that you can do this on your own. Planning your wedding will undoubtedly be one of the hardest, yet most rewarding, things you will accomplish to date. Just follow these 5 Easy Steps To Start Wedding Planning and planning your dream wedding will be a little less stressful.

(Photo credit: Morghan of Arowyn Photography)

Step 1: Do absolutely no wedding-related tasks for the first week
Seriously. The next few months will be chaotic, so take this week to let it sink in that you are getting married. Go on a date with your new fiancé. People will notice that new shiny addition on your finger and the glowing smile of the bride-to-be.

Step 2: Decide on a season
Have you envisioned a beach wedding? A Winter Wonderland wedding? A wedding in the woods? Now is the time to settle on the season and a range of dates. 

Step 3: Choose a color palette
There are no rules behind picking a color scheme. You can choose your favorite colors or go with seasonal colors. I wold recommend using either 2 or 3 colors. Having too many colors can be distracting and overwhelming for your guests.

Step 4: Book a ceremony and reception venue
You have a few options when it comes to venues. You can either have the ceremony and reception at the same location or you can opt to have them at separate locations. Some people say that you will save money if both the ceremony and reception are held at the same venue. I didn't find this to be true when planning my wedding. Take time to research different venues in your area. Read all the contracts before signing and putting money down. Note: if you are holding your event at two locations, be sure to get available dates from both venues before booking.

Step 5: Research vendors 

This is the time to think about photographers, videographers and florists. Most everyone knows someone, whether it be a family member or a friend, that provides one of these services. So, you're probably thinking that it could either be cheaper to hire them or that it's nice to help their business out. Bad idea! I learned this hard way. Learn from my mistakes so you don't experience the same struggles I did. Your family and friends want to enjoy your wedding day along with you, not behind a camera. Do your research, you can (and will!) find inexpensive options for these services.

Enjoy this time in your life. Someone once told me that I would be the only one to know if something doesn't get done. That's so true. Don't worry if the sparklers for your grand departure didn't arrive in time or the font on the programs is blue instead of black. Trust me, no one will notice. 

Babies and Pumpkins

A couple weeks after I asked my cousin, Dawn, to be my matron of honor for our wedding she found out that she was pregnant and her due date was two days after our wedding date in July. She ended up scheduling a c-section for the Tuesday before our wedding but her water ended up breaking on Monday afternoon, a day early. Baby Colton was welcomed into the world on Monday, July 21st. Here, Colton is just over two months old.

Khanh and I spent a weekend with Dawn and Kyle helping to take care of their two boys, Nathan and Colton, and helping with chores around the house. Nathan is two and a half years old so we tried keeping him entertained. We decided to take Nathan to Gull Meadow Farms so Dawn could rest and spend quality time with Colton while Kyle worked 3rd shift and slept during the day.

There are so many activities to keep kids busy for hours. We let Nathan pick out two pumpkins, one for him and one for his brother. After the pumpkin patch, we headed to the activity area where Nathan and Khanh slid down the slide numerous times and completed an obstacle course. There were a couple of boards for the kids to put their face in to take pictures (is there a word for these?) and Nathan wanted to do every last one of these. Our final stop at Gull Meadow Farms was the fresh doughnut shop. We bought a gallon of apple cider and a dozen of both the pumpkin glazed and the apple cinnamon doughnuts.

Once we paid for our doughnuts and apple cider, it was time to load up and head back home. On our drive home we saw hot air balloons that intrigued Nathan to no end. As we kept driving, all of the hot air balloons started to descend into a field and we got an up-close look at a few of them. 

Taking Nathan to Gull Meadow Farms is a memory I will never forget. He is such a sweet and funny little guy and I just love him to pieces.

Easy Stuffed Bell Pepper Recipe

Our town has the cutest farmer's market that we like strolling around on Saturday mornings. The hustle and bustle of all the farmer's and customers, the smells from fresh baked breads and desserts, and wandering without lists or concern for time makes for the perfect Saturday morning date. This past weekend we ended up buying four green bell peppers, which I turned into this Easy Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe for dinner last night.  

  Ingredient List   4 Bell Peppers - any color 1 lb ground beef 1 onion 1 clove garlic 1 can tomato sauce 1 cup cooked rice Mozzarella cheese   Recipe   1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. 2. Brown ground beef and then add onion and garlic. Cook until onions are clear or see-through. 3. While the meat is browning, cut the tops off of your bell peppers and get all the seeds out. Set bell peppers aside. 4. Once meat is browned, add the cooked rice and 1 cup of the tomato sauce to the mixture. Stir. 5. Fill bell peppers with equal amount of beef and rice mixture. 6. Place filled bell peppers in an ungreased glass baking dish. 7. Top with the remaining tomato sauce. 8. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. 9. Bake for 10 minutes. 10. Remove from oven and take off aluminum foil. Continue baking for 20 minutes, or until bell peppers are soft. 11. Remove from oven and top with mozzarella cheese. 12. Enjoy!  

  This Easy Stuffed Bell Pepper recipe is so easy to make on busy school nights when all you want to eat is ice cream. You don't do that? Neither do I. #exceptireallydo

First Detroit Tigers Game!

Khanh's birthday was September 7th (he's a quarter of a century old!) and we celebrated by going to our very first Tigers baseball game with my mom and her boyfriend. Oh my goodness! Why didn't anyone tell me how much fun professional baseball is? The fans, sounds, smells, and sights all won me over before we even stepped foot into Comerica Park. When attending a Tigers game, it's an unspoken rule that you have to take a picture with the 15-foot tall tiger sculpture in front of the main stadium entrance. There are actually nine over-sized tigers throughout the ballpark, including two at the top of the scoreboard.

Once we were inside the stadium, we walked all the way around to look at the various attractions offered. Some things for kids were a ferris wheel shaped like baseballs, a merry-go-round with nothing but tigers on it and simulated fast-pitch. When we got back to our seats, the Tigers were on the field warming up. This was happening right in front of us...

Are they stretching? 

 We were lucky enough to see Miguel Cabrera hit a home run and watch the Tigers beat the San Francisco Giants 6-1!

When we left I told Khanh that we definitely have attend a game again. We'll see you next year, Comerica.

Have you ever been to a professional sporting event and instantly fell in love with the sport?