Fun times with growing babies....

Anyone who knows Mike and I know that our number one parenting goal is teaching good manners. Both children can be heard saying "Please" and "thank you" or "your welcome" (almost) always without provocation. We work VERY hard with this subject and are most often rewarded by them doing it with strangers, too. (Which most parents of little kids know, they never seem to "perform" when we really want them to.)

Our most recent step in the manners division is to reply "yes, ma'am" or "yes, sir" even when they don't particularly want to say so. This is a difficult concept to explain to a three year old, but he IS getting it... slowly.

However, last night, I told Gabe it was bedtime and, like everynight, he didn't want to go... He said (even better because he always refers to himself in the third person), "Gabey don't want to go night-night! Gabey watch TV!" To which, I replied, "No, buddy, sorry but it's time for bed." Then G said, "No mom, you say 'yes man!'" It took me a second to realize what he was implying, but he wanted me to say "yes, ma'am" to his demand to stay up. I had to try to explain that it doesn't quite work like that, but I give him credit for trying.

This is just a cute little snippet from my blissful car ride the other day. What's really funny? Mike sleeps the exact same way.

cheeseballs

I love my silly babies.

iHeart Stacy.

This is just a taste of the Valentine's pics that the Fab-U-Lous Stacy took for us.

BIG THINGS!!

This has been a long time coming; I have FINALLY made a decision to go back to a salon. I've been thinking about this seriously for over a year now, and the time is finally right for me to do it. Mike and I are so lucky to be in the position we are, and I very blessed to be able to make this choice out of want instead of need. I will only be working part time, Tuesday, Wednesday and every other Saturday to start, but I think it will be really good for me.

You see, I LOVE me kids, but sometimes... day after day... week after week... let's just say, I've earned my grey hairs. Fortunately, Mike and I are in the position for me to be able to work WITHOUT NEEDING DAYCARE! Yay for daddy time! I don't know if he really knows what he's getting himself into, but he offered!

I am also thrilled that I have kept a good relationship with my former salon-mates and will be rejoining them in their new (new to me) location in downtown Sumner. My first day will be Tuesday, February 16th. To kick things off, I'm going to be doing some BIG things.

First of all:



That's right, $20 off your next service! Simply print and bring in! But that's not all.... (enter cheeseball announcer voice here)

The FIRST 25 CLIENTS will ALSO receive a gift bag with over $20 worth goodies including lip gloss and treats!

AND, there's still more... Refer a new customer, either by passing on the coupon or simply sending them in with your name, and YOU will get an ADDITIONAL $10 OFF! These can be added up and saved or used whenever you like!

Last, but not least, I am also starting a punch card program.... 7 services and get a haircut free! Appointments can be scheduled either through the salon starting February 8th or through me, as soon as you'd like. I get a creepy feeling blasting my cell number over the internet, but email me or send me your email and we can go from there.

cecrossley@gmail.com

A little note to all my loyal "in home" customers over the past few years... I WILL continue to do the occasional house call, so don't be afraid to ask if that's what you prefer!! I have really loved the simplicity of my work for the past few years, and I never want anyone to forget that! Thank you so much for supporting me!

And.. a little shout out to my favorite photog in the world, The incredible Stacy Jacobsen is opening a new STUDIO also in down town Sumner. She's having a little party on Saturday to celebrate!

Pretty, Pretty Princey

Not to be out done, Princess Gianna needed her own post!

G to the B

My handsome boy is getting to be SO GROWN UP!!! He was cheesin' for me today! "Mommy, take my picture? Gabey smile for you?" He's such a good lookin' kid! I tell him- almost daily- that if he ever does anything to that perfect nose that I won't be a happy mommy. (G to the B is the evolution from "Gabey Baby" to "G.B." to finally "G to the B"...)

Turkey Meatballs

Over the last few months, I have taken a preference to cooking with ground turkey over ground beef, especially in the instance of meatballs or meatloaf. I've become partial to both the flavor and the leanness of the turkey. I love making meatballs as an appetizer for parties served both warm and cold or for sandwiches and pastas. I've made several variations of these, usually determined by what I have in the house at that given moment, and what I love is that they are so easy and always turn out delicious! Fun ingredients such as pine nuts and sun-dried tomatoes are great for a unique flavor, but since we've been counting calories, I decided to keep these fairly simple...

Ingredients:

1 package (1.25 lbs.) Jennie-O Ground Turkey Breast, thawed (I feel like I should get paid for all the shout outs I give, but they are consistently lower in calories than other brands)

1/2 cup grated carrots

1/4 cup grated yellow or white onion

1 Tbs minced garlic

1/4 cup apple sauce

3/4 cup canned diced tomatoes

3 Tbs egg whites

3 slices Sara Lee 45 calorie per slice bread

1/2 cup turkey pepperoni, minced

1 tsp salt

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp basil

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Dehydrate your bread slices. I like to put them in my oven heated to 170-175 and forget about them for a good 30 minutes to an hour.

Combine all the ingredients into large bowl and get good and dirty! Crumble bread slices as best as possible. Use your hands to thoroughly mix.

Shape them into balls- larger than golf ball size, maybe 1.5 to 2"- and place on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until internal temp reaches 165 degrees.

Yield: 24 meatballs, at 41 calories a piece!

Try serving 2, sliced in half, with 1/4 cup of marinara, 1/4 cup part skim mozzarella, open faced on a slice of toasted 45 calorie bread and you have a yummy meal for only 237 calories!